FAMINE RELIEF

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24116, 27 November 1943, Page 2

FAMINE RELIEF

PLANS TO HELP EUROPE AND ASIA MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH About 40 representative citizens of Christchurch last night attended a meeting called by the Christchurch Society of Friends to discuss the possibility of taking action to relieve the millions suffering from famine in Europe and Asia. Mr Philip J. Thorne presided at the meeting, which was held in the rooms of the Federation o. University Women, and explained that the Friends, or Quakers, the smallest religious body in New Zealand, were deeply concerned about oorditions in Europe, and were anxious to supply help, irrespective of race, creed, or colour. Mrs M. Morrison said it was suggested to form in Christchurch a committee that would awake public interest in the sufferings of the peoples of Europe and Asia and would, in tim<® exert influence sufficient to ensure the granting of navicerts for the shipping of vitally necessary foods for young children, expectant and nursing mothers and invalids. Dr. J. Hight emphasised tlje importance of ensuring Dominion-wide support for such a movement, and gave helpful particulars of the relief given to overseas students by the university students of New Zealand, who, in the last two years, had forwarded more than £2OOO for the relief of students in China and Europe. Sir Joseph Ward. Consul for Belgium, said what Belgium needed was not so much food as restricted medical relief. The mortality in Belgium was three times higher than before the war, and the incidence of tuberculosis had increased considerably. For three years, he said, men in Belgium had had less than halt the food necessary for men engaged in sedentary work. Father Gordon Daly congratulated the Friends for the action they had taken in calling the meeting; he hoped the movement would become Dominion-wide, and he promised the support of the Catholic people of Christchurch, Other speakers, all of whom considered that pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to make it possible to send relief to Europe, were the Rev. J. Silvester, the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson, Mr A. C. Perry (Consul for Denmark), and Mr Nuttall. It was decided that those present should form themselves into a committee and enlist the interest of other organisations and individuals, to influence public opinion so that immediate relief could be provided for the sufferers in devastated countries. It was decided that the committee should meet again on December 10.