CHILDREN OF EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25537, 3 July 1948, Page 2

CHILDREN OF EUROPE

SPONSORSHIP TO CONTINUE Sponsors have undertaken to continue sponsorship under the Save the Children fund, at least for another year, more firms and schools are sponsoring children, and the employees of two sheep stations in North Canterbury have agreed to sponsor children. These particulars were given in a report submitted to the Christchurch committee of the Save the Children fund, held in the City Council Chambers yesterday. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) attended the meeting for a short time and expressed appreciation of the good work which the committee was continuing to do. It was reported that 19 sacks and one large parcel of clothing sent to headquarters in London by Mrs Ashley Dean and helpers had arrived safely and the greater part of it had been sent to Austria. More sacks, of clothing have been dispatched more recently. A letter from a welfare worker employed by the Save the Children fund was read. It described the pitiable plight of children in Hungary. Fifty per cent, of btfildings in Budapest, the writer said, were uninhabitable and the average number of persons living in one room, generally badly ventilated and ill-lit, was nine to 10. Children, even in children’s homes, were in rags and hordes -of beggar children, hungry and diseased roamed the streets

Miss M. G. Havelaar, who presided at the meeting said that the reports contained in this and similar letters showed that there was still much need for the committee to continue its activities with undiminished -enthusiasm. She reminded members that it would be necessary to post Christmas parcels in Christchurch as early as August, 1o ensure their delivery before the end of the year. - - - Several members handed in donations and undertook to collect small sums from their friends to help the funds.