CHINESE ORPHANS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22419, 4 June 1938, Page 4

CHINESE ORPHANS

■ PROPOSED “ADOPTION” BY NEW ZEALANDERS MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK’S APPEAL (PIIESS ASSOCIATION- ■ TKI-EOH-VJ.) WELLINGTON, June 3. The' plight of many thousand Chinese children, cfrphaned as a result of the conflict with the Japanese, has aroused the sympathy of the people of New Zealand who have contributed to the recent Far East Relief Appeal. A movement is now afoot to raise funds to “adopt” a certain number of children by paying for their upkeep, the amount being computed at £4 a year for each child. The scheme originated in the mind of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, who, in an open letter to members of the branch of the Association of Chinese Women’s Relief Association in New Zealand, stated: “There are tens of thousands of war orphans who are destitute, homeless, and uncared-for. Our women here have undertaken, as a first step, to arrange to care for 20,000 of these little ones, • I am wondering whether it would be possible for women in New Zealand and their colleagues to raise funds for this project. They might try to interest various towns and cities to ‘adopt’ a certain number of orphans by paying for their upkeep, and if such a plan could be carried out we shall be glad to send a group of photographs of the children ‘adopted’.” With the idea of launching a national appeal, a number of prominent Wellington people met to dis-_ cuss the scheme, and it was decided to communicate with all interested organisations and to hold a public meeting on June 16. Consul’s Support Appreciation of the enthusiasm of those sponsoring the appeal was expressed by the Chinese Consul (Mr Wang Feng) in an interview. “As a result of the war thousands upon thousands of young children in China are now bereft of parents, homes, and schools,” he said. "As the fighting continues, their number increases steadily. The Association for War Refugee Children in China, which was sponsored by Madame Chiang Kai-shek, is now making a drive for funds. They estimate that it will cost 60 Chinese dollars, which is approximately £4 in New Zealand currency, to house, feed, clothe, and educate in a simple way one child for a year. “Their immediate object is to care for 20,000 children, and later to support as many as their funds will allow. Their plan is to make use. of environment, and put these children through strict training and proper guidance, so that they will become the builders of the new China after .the war, and at the same time become enthusiastic supporters for world peace and the progress of humanity as a whole. “The peoplp of New Zealand, with their Intense love of children and their strong sense of humanity, will naturally not fail to give a response to Madame Chiang’s appeal, but we must remember that they have already given help to China by sending medical doctors for the relief of her sick and wounded. Although we do not wish to overburden them, we nevertheless would be very grateful if they would give what little help they can. If each of the social institutions in the towns and cities of this Dominion will undertake to support only one of these fatherless children, a few hundred of them at least will be saved from destitution and death. “I would be very grateful indeed if the people of New Zealand would take up this appeal of Madame Chiang’s, and do what they can to succour some of these helpless victilns of war,” he added. ■ ■