LONDON'S AGONY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 9

LONDON'S AGONY

Relief For Wounded And The Homeless

Fund Opened At "Auckland Star" Office

VX7ORDS have little meaning in any attempt to bring home the horror "* to the people in our islands of the fiendish attack by the soulless »ir force that Hitler and hi* scum have launched on the civil population zf London. It muit be left to the imagination of each individual to picture what it mutt mean to. live from hour to hour in terror of maiming or destruction; to herd in crowded shelters bereft of proper sleep by the crashing of bombs and the thunder of the anti-aircraft artillery: to hear :he wailing of unfortunate children who refuse to be comforted; to have constantly before one's eyes piteous cases of bereavement and sorrow tha» are beyond' comforting. This is London to-day. and everyone will ronceive his or her mental picture of its terrors. We can do little to help, but at least we can make a contribution towards alleviating the distress of the sufferers—each according to his or her ability. This is not V case for the few willing givers, but for all—the child's money box as well as the better circumstanced person's banking account. The heroism of the afflicted peoole of London, their fortitude and endurance are as much a part of the fight for our deliverance from serfdom as the magnificent courage and self-sacrifice of our fighting forces.

New Zealand Newspapers, Limited, through the "Auckland Star." the "Christchurch Sun" and other journals that it produces, launch** this appeal for funds to the people, confident that it will not fall on deaf ?ars.

The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, at our request, has on behalf of the Auckland Patriotic Council, through which Government authorisation has to be secured, given on behalf of the council, the necessary approval to the fund.

"It is difficult to conceive a worthier objective or a more patriotic purpose than that of providing funds urgently for the relief of distress smontz the pallnnt neople of London." said the Mavor. commenting on the Gift of £100,000 immediately by the National Patriotic Fund. The Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, of which he is president, would ke happy to provide its quota. The provincial fund throughout the orovince would be available to receive subscriptions at its many centres.

In view of the urgent need for the supply of clothing to British victims of air raids, arrangements were completed in Wellington yesterday for the provision of additional steamer space for the immediate delivery ■>f large quantities of wearing apparel, collected, cleaned, classified and packed by the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild of the province. The impression in some quarters that an easing off of the work of the guild was dictated by the heavy accumulations of stocks was erroneous. In the liftht of existing conditions an intensification of effort was called for. Sir Ernest said he was happy to congratulate the guild of the province on the splendid results of the work to date. The first list of subscribers to the fund, opened to-day by the 'Auckland Star," is as follows:— Colonial Sugar Refining Company 500 0 0 Mr. Wm. Goodfellow 500 0 0 Sir Erneet and Lady Davis 250 0 0 Sir Cecil and Lady Leys 250 0 0 Mr. and Mrs. J; A. C. AUum 50 0 0 Miss AUum 5 0 0 total 1555 0 0 Further amounts will be acknowledged through the "Auckland Star" is received.