FRANCE IN FAVOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 31, 5 February 1916, Page 9

FRANCE IN FAVOUR.

DOMINION RED CROSS DAY. PREFIER ASKED TO SUBSIDISE. FUNDS. A deputation consisting of Professor Maxwell Walker, and Messrs. L. J. Dv Flou, A. G. Lunn and A. G. Cooke, waited upon the Prime -Minister this morning with -a view to furthering the claims of the New Zealand Fund for the French Red Cross. The deputation was introduced by Mr. C. H. Poole, M.P., who remarked on the worthiness of the cause, and asked for the sympathetic interest of the Prime Minister. '

Professor Walker, speaking as president of the New Zealand Fund, explained tho origin of the movement, which originated with the Auckland French Club, and mentioned that lettei6 expressing warm gratitude for remittances already Bent had been received from the French Government, and also from the secretary of the French Red Cross Society in Paris. He further, stated that the various patriotic societies had now associated themselves with tbe committee of the Auckland French Club, with a view to making the movement a pronounced success, and to enable a fund worthy of New Zealand to be forwarded. He asked Mr. Massey for his sympathetic support, and requested also practical help in the shape of a. subsidy on all funds collected, mentioning that the New South Wales Government, had seen fit to subsidise all funds similarly collected on " Allies' Day " in Sydney. Mr. Dv Flou and Mr. Lunn, in supporting Professor Walker's remarks, emphasised the desirability of a subsidy from the commercial as well as from the sentimental point of view, and expressed the hope that the Government would see its way to give the practical assistance required.

Mr. Massey, in the course of his re-! ply, commented on the excellent rela- : tions which existed between France and I 'New Zealand, and assured the deputa-1 tion that the movement bad his deepest JJersonal -sympathy. He felt that an effort of this kind could only tend to 1 cement still further the bonds" of friendShip already existing, and promised to bring th e matter of a subsidy before Cabinet at the earliest opportunity. Mr. Poole and Professor Walker thanked the Prime Minister for his conrtcsy, and- sympath-*trc bearing, and the deputation withdrew.