OUR BELGIAN ALLIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 50, 27 February 1915, Page 10

OUR BELGIAN ALLIES.

EOW BEST TO ASSIST THEM. "'MEETING" AT THE TOWN HALL. GOVERNMENT GRANT ADVOCATED. A well-attended meriing of the Atiek-L-nd Provincial Belgian Relief Fund General Committee was held yesterday afternoon in tlie Town Hall buildings. Mr. Robert Burns (Ccnsul for Belgium and president of tlie Chamber of Commerce) presided. The churcl-.es were represented by Bishop C'leary, Revs. W. E. Gillam and I. .lolly. . The chairman said they had received so far in cash £45.337 15/1, remitted £42,300, and expended £SOl 4/. AID FOR THE FUTURE. Mr. Burns said the executive had thought it advisable to call the general committee together, in view of the pressing appeal made for further contributions. They had to consider three different courses. The first was that a levy should be made upon all people in the shape of a Government grant; the second course was to raise more funds locally; and the third was to do as had been done in New South Wales—urge upon the Government to give a grant direct, and aJso to-subsidise Jo the extent, of £ for £ any further sums raised locally. Mr. C. G.Lunn said that tho. million and a-quarter per month "now being expended upon relief to the Belgians" was only just keeping body and soul together, and for that, reason he considered they should urge upon the Government to make a handsome contribution. He understood that Sir Edward Grey had to some extent stopped relief contributions, as there-Tvas-reason to believe that some was takenaby-the Germans. Even of that were correct, they must still help the Belgians. He moved,* "That the Government lie strongly urged to at once grant at least " £20,000 per month to the relief of the ! Belgians,, and that, in addition, private charity should still be continued.': He considered the fund should be augmented by -weekly contributions until the whole of the Belgians ivere relieved. Air. -F. Brown said that an appeal had been made .for £7.5.000 from Australasia. «fld on a population basis. New Zealand's proportion would not be more than I £15,000, so there was no need to ask the Government -to*give more than was i asked ior. THE IMA-YGR'STVARXTXG. Mr. C. J. Parr eaid 5t behoved them to be very careful in •w.hat they decided to : do. They must not forget the utterances \ of »?ir Edward Gxey, Secretary for For- ! eign 'Affairs, that Great Britain did not. propose to continue sending money for j the relief of the Belgians, as it was go- ! ing to feed the enemy. '"in other i words," said 31r. Parr.'''the Germans are ee-izing t'ue contributions we are!' sending , <wer.'' The Chairman: None-of our: money has i teen sent to Belgium. iMr. 'Parr: What guarantee have we \ that the enemy does not collar it. in the face-of Sir 'Edward Grey's statement, i Is not "that an indication to us thai the ' time has arrived -when we should take care what we eend sts_nofc commandeered I by the enemy? It was our duty, the Mayor added, to succour these people, and Auckland has done nobly already. Nearly £50.000 ■were raised, in addition to goods and clothes, worth another £30,000. It might sound ungracious, hut he asked: •TThar are the oiber parfe of the Dominion doing in comparison? Public opininn here was in favour of a State grant. He thought-iMi £20,000 per month, was too much for NTersr Zealand to give. Our ■ proportion of the £75.000 asked for tro;i!d be about £12.500. NO SECOXD CAMPAIGN. ?.fr. Parr said with regard to getting further private he did not think it | would be a right thing to ask people who were going to be taxed for a Government grant in aid of the Belgians to also give further private donations. What with a patriotic fund of £50,000. and the Belgian Relief Fund, 'Auckland j dir-trict had already -done; exceedingly I well. ° j Mr, Lunn said he did not propose to ' have a second active campaign, but j merely to ask people to send in mont'.ilv subscriptions. Mr. Neville NVtreomb said they might ' rest assured the Government would not give £20.000 per month without first being assured it would reach -the Belgian j people. . Bishop Clearv said he strongly supported both sections of the motion. It was an Imperial -duty to relieve the distress in Belsium. They should stand by fho=e who had stood by the Empire. Mr. E. Anderson said he would iike to fcv the Government give more than was 3*ked for. The grant could be rec.'.upcj by a tax on luxuries and amu«e-mpnt-5. Mr. Parr fhev must not forget they were going to have our own poor ■to help next winter. Tlrpre would be thousands of them, and ha successor would have to face a very serious question. Charity began at home; wo would have to appeal for help, for our own poor before tire w : ir was over, and rureadv Auckland district had raised something like £100.000 in war funds. '"7 will be no party." added the Miyor. "to another active campaign to raise funds here for the Belgians." The Chairman said they only intended to let it be known they wprp prepared to ftill receive regular contributions, and forward the money on. ThpTe would not br* a second campaign. The motion was agreed to. THE LINDAEUR COLLECTION. The Chairman said Mr. H. E. Partridse proposed to present to the Belgian Relief Fund, on certain conditions, a most munificent gift in the shape of his magnificent collvction of paintings of Maoris. It iiad taken Mr. Partridge 40 years to get the collection together at oreut ex-ppHf-e. and he (the speaker) had be?n informed that the value of the pictures was between £20.000 and £25.000. (Ap-plaut-e.) The collection was at present in tho Auckland Art Gallery. Mr. Partridge said the gift was not only fmm himself, but the whole of his family concurred with him in thib matter. (Applause.) After the executive had considered the conditions it would let the general committee know details in the course of a few wreks. Mr. Parr said it was a very handeorae gilt, but he should be tsorry if the col'ection ever left Auckland. (Applause.) Tllc pictures were very valuable as illi'strpting Maori I'iS-e and customs. He moved. '"That a hearty vote of thank>s b - ; accorded Mr. 11. E. Partridge and the members of his family for this meet magnificent gift, also that this meeting trusts the executive will devise nreane by which the citizens of Auckland ma3 r not leee- these pictures, because they are This was carrred with applause. The Chairman said Mr. Partridge was anxious himself that the collection should aot go out of Auckland district, given far the moet ■worthy object."