NATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12295, 8 April 1937, Page 3

NATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND

HEALTH CAMPS FURTHER APPEAL BY THE RIGHT lION. G. W. FORBES, M.P. It is my pleasant duty to-night to reinforce the appeal made by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Mr Savage, for donations from the citizens of New Zealand to the King George the Fifth National Memorial Fund which is to he used for the permanent establishment of Children's Health Camps. Both the Fund and the object for which it is to lie used have my earnest support, and I am sure you will agree with me that these camps will be a fitting memorial to a Sovereign whose especial interest was the welfare of his people, particularly the children.

The death of His late Majesty was received with deep sorrow in every part of tlie Dominion —it was as if a clo.-e personal friend had passed away—and it behoves our generation to perpetuate his memory. For over twenty-five years, our late King had been both a monarch and a sincere and sympathetic friend ot his peoples. Their welfare was his constant consideration to the very end, and he set a standard of unselfish devotion to public duties that is a permanent pattern for all who take part in the public life and service of their country. I had the privilege of an audience with His late Majesty when attending the Jubilee Celebrations in May, 19 35, and he then expressed his appreciation of the kindness shown to him and to Queen Mary on the occasion of their visit to New Zealand in 1901, and also his appreciation of the kindness shown to his son, the Duke of Gloucester when he visited us in 1934. During the celebrations which marked the twenty-fifth year of his reign, I had opportunity of observing the manifestations ot the feelings ot loyalty in which he was held by his subjects. The demonstrations which greeted the Royal Proceisions will ever remain to me an indelible memory, and they were a testimony not only of our late King’s qualities of statesmanship—great as they were and invaluable as they were throughout the troublesome times of his reign,—but also a testimony to his deep and abiding sympathy for those in adversity. He never spared himself to do everything in his power to assist those in difficulties and his words of comfort and wisdom must have heartened and inspired millions of his subjects. By his noble example he strengthened and deepened the loyalty of the people to the Throne, and we, who cherish memories of his affectionate leadership, are now called upon to provide for future generations a fitting memorial which will remind future generations of the love of the people of this age for King George the Fifth. The permanent Health Camps, which the Memorial Fund .will provide, like the memorial playing fields which are being established hy a similar fund in Great Britain, will Keep the name of our late King in fitting remembrance. No scheme could have been chosen more likely to please one who has always had the interests of the young people very close at heart. You will recall that in his Christmas broadcast addresses to the Empire he asked to be looked upon as the head of a large family, and in the establishment of health camps we are about to provide for the more unfortunate members of that family.

Here is an opportunity: let us grasp it. I appear to our people to make this memorial national in every sense of the word. Let us all contribute according to our means. It does not matter how small our .contributions may he; it is the spirit behind them that counts, and I know that that spirit is prevalent throughout the Dominion.

I would like to make a special appeal to the women of New Zealand to get behind this movement for the improvement of the health of the children of the Dominiin. It is the natural follow on of the work of the Plunket Society in saving the babies, and the remarkable success that has been achieved in that direction shows what our women can do, and I appeal to them to do likewise with this National Memorial and make it worthy of a great and good King and a blessing to thousands and thousands of children as the years go on.