CHILDREN OF EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 2

CHILDREN OF EUROPE

SPONSORS STILL NEEDED

The need for persons sponsoring children to post their Christmas parcels within the next two weeks was emphasised by Miss M. G. Havelaar, who presided at a meeting yesterday of the Christchurch committee of the Save the Children Fund. Miss Havelaar read letters from persons in Germany and Austria, who expressed their thanks to the people of Canterbury for their generous help. Information received from Germany indicated that the orphanages there were full to overflowing and that the children were frightened of their future.

Sponsors were urgently needed for children in Greece, Italy, and Austria, where living conditions were extremely bad, said Miss Havelaar. Tuberculosis was prevalent, and in many cases large families of children were sharing rooms with infected parents. In Austria many of the children were unable to attend school because clothing was so scarce. Footwear and warm clothing were urgently needed before the winter set in. Miss Havelaar said. A letter received from the Australian Save the Children Committee said that they were sending a team of welfare workers to Korea and New Zealand was asked to send a representative with the team.

Thanks were expressed by Miss Havelaar to Mrs F. Pyne, who has given two paintings to the committee to assist the fund.

Sister I. Blathwayt reported on the ■work being done by the nurses at the Christchurch Public Hospital, who sponsor several children. The annual meeting of the committee will be held in Timaru at the end of the month.