SPANISH WAR ORPHANS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 10

SPANISH WAR ORPHANS

New Zealand To Give Help HOME IN FRANCE PROPOSED A decision to launch a campaign to raise money for the relief of Spanish war orphans was made at a meeting in Wellington yesterday. The meeting was convened by the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Who said that, if the committee approved, he would open a fund. On the nomination of the mayor, Mr. D. A. Ewen was elected chairman, and it was decided that those present should form themselves into a general committee and out of them a small executive should be appointed. A motion by Mr. A. Smith, seconded by Mr. C. Wilson, that a paid secretary be appointed, was carried, and Mr. Smith Was entrusted .with securing a man. Mr. H. Robinson said it should be realised that the fund to be raised was for the relief of necessitous Spanish children orphaned by the war in their country, with no political discrimination. The effort would be directed toward the establishment of a home for 20 children on the lines of homes already established by groups in England, France and the United States of America.

It was explained to the meeting that the home would probably be in France, advice having been received from Baris that many houses near the frontier were available for such purposes. Voluntary help would be available from England, especially among the younger people. It was estimated that the cost of maintaining one child for a year would be £l4, so that the commitment would not be great. A thousand pounds would set the orphanage going. The campaign is to be a national one and it was pointed out that the university students had an organisation that could be employed in the work. The plan is to ask the High Commissioner to seek the assistance of New Zealanders in England for the work and to vest supervision of the expenditure of the fund in him. The following executive was appointed to arrange preliminary details and is to meet on Tuesdayßev. W. H. F. McKenzie, Mr. J. Aimers, representing the Victoria College Students' Association, Mr. W. P. Rollings, Mr. D. Doig, Miss M. England, Miss E. Deste.