To Save Children

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 12

To Save Children

The Save the Children Fund concerns itself with the care of children all over the world. Because New Zealand children are among the most fortunate, the New Zealand branch of the fund counts on the generous support of New Zealanders for the international efforts to aid the less fortunate—and it is never disappointed in its expectations. The annual Rice Bowl Appeal, as it has become widely known, will open tomorrow and continue until September 8; and although times are harder than in recent years, in which the country’s contribution has risen from an annual $66,000 to $BO,OOO, the appeal committee is justifiably confident that New Zealanders will not stint their response to this most heart-warming of humanitarian appeals. Wide support has come from the schools through the meal ticket scheme, which emphasises that a contribution of five cents will buy a meal for a child in countries where hunger is the common lot of young and old. A guiding principle of the fund, as emphasised in its charter, is that “the child must be protected “beyond and, above all considerations of race “ nationality, or creed ”. Basically British in origin and direction, the fund currently has full-time medical, nursing, and welfare teams in 18 countries, including Vietnam, Korea, Greece, and those regions of Africa and the Middle East where war has created appalling refugee problems. Unfortunately, monetary problems have exacerbated the fund’s difficulties. This year it has to cope not only with rising costs but also with the effects of devaluation; it is estimated that an extra $350,000 will be needed to maintain present projects without responding to the many new calls on the compassion of the fund and its world-wide contributors. New Zealanders this week can do something to ensure that the means to give children a reasonable chance in life do not fall too far short of the need.