THE EMPIRE'S DEBT TO BELGIUM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 94, 17 October 1914, Page 6

THE EMPIRE'S DEBT TO BELGIUM

Day by day the peoplo of the British Empire arc becoming more and more conscious of thoir debt to Belgium. Time may show that' the benefit of Belgium's bravery to Britain and France is far beyond the measure of mere money, but already the Allies know that material reward alone cannot adequately requite the bravo little country for its wonderful self-sacriflcing fight against the Kaiser's aggressive legions. Britain's best writers have put their praise of that heroism in words which will live in literature, and they admit, truly, that language fails to express fully their sense of gratitude to a nation which preferred honour, with the havoc of war, to comfortable compliance with a dictator's demand. Belgians' homes have been shattered, but their honour is intact. Bel gians' cornfields have been burnt, but the fame of their valour is imperishable. They have made a monument which will not pass away. Meanwhile thousands of the people suffer in hunger and misery of body, though their spirit does not falter. They are in dire need of help, especially as the iron hand of winter is gripping the lands by the North Sea. Britons throughout the world are helping to relieve the distress of Belgians, but these contributions need some multiplication. When the Federal Premier, Mr. Fisher, decided to ask Parliament for £100,000, an obligation was placed on New Zealand to act with similar generosity. The Christchurch PreES suggests £50,000 (which would be, proportionately, twice as liberal a gift a« Australia's), but it is not necessary to begin with such an amount. A sum of £25,000 could be a good initial subsidy, and more could be granted later on, according to the need. Of course, if Parliament decided to vote £50,000 next week, the allocation would be still far short of Belgium's deserts, but unfortunately New Zealand's means are limit-., ed at this time of many calls for aid.