The Governor-General's Fund.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20828, 11 April 1933, Page 8

The Governor-General's Fund.

We printed yesterday an appeal by their Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe to the people of New Zealand, which needs no commendation. His Excellency points out that in the coming winter, despite the relief measures adopted by the Government and local bodies and supplemented by voluntary organisations, there will be severe privation, even actual want, among the unemployed and their dependents. With the concurrence of his Ministers his Excellency has therefore established a fund to be called " the " Governor-General's Winter Re- " lief Fund,'' to which those whose circumstances permit are asked to make gifts of money, food, clothing, or firing. Though there are many locaJ relief funds in existence, the Governor-General's Fund has at least two distinct advantages. In the first place it is an appeal to the national conscience, a challenge to the people of New Zealand to deal with a difficult and dangerous situation; and as such it is certain to stir the popular imagination more effectively than merely local appeals. In the second place, the fund Is a means of providing voluntary relief where it is most needed. It is unfortunate, but perhaps inevitable, that the success of local appeals is usually more closely related to the wealth ot the communities concerned the amount

of distress in them. It will be possible, by means of the GovernorGeneral's Fund, to supplement local voluntary efforts which have failed to meet the need inspiring them. " This is admittedly an unusual ap"peal," says his Excellency at the conclusion of his statement, "but "the circumstances are unprecedented and call for an unprece- " dented effort on "the part of every "section of the community." It should be added that no one is more likely to evoke such an effort than his Excellency.