WAR VICTIMS OF FRANCE

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 139, 12 June 1918, Page 3

WAR VICTIMS OF FRANCE

FUNDS FOR THEIR RELIEF

SIR J. ALLEN DOUBTS WISDOM

OF MOVEMENT

STRONG CONDEMNATION OF THE

GOVERNMENT

A meeting convened by the Mayor, and called at the request of the French Cercle and well-wishers, was.Jield in the

City Council Chamber last evening—the ■ object being to raise funds as a national ' tribute to the valour and .sacrifices of the ' French Nation. It is proposed to devote ; the funds to the relief of war sufferers, including orphanages for soldiers' children. The attendance was small, consist- ; ing of only about a dozen persons. The Consul for France (Mr. J. Macintosh) . was present. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. j Luke, M.P., C.M.G.) presided. The Mayor said that he had gladly responded to the invitation which he had received from the representatives of the (jercle Francaise and from a number of i -well-wishers of the French nation to call ; a public meeting for the objects men-. 1 tioned in the advertisement, and he re- ; gretted exceedingly that there was not a ■ larger attendance. For some reason orii other, for quite a long time there had 1 been some sinister feelings existing in : the city; and if there was a desire to <lo I anything for trfe French nation in the 1 way of raising a fund, it had not met I with that cordial reception that they had a right to expect. He regretted that exceedingly, because time and again the question had been raised of starting something in the way of a campaign for the purpose of identifying this city and the Dominion with a movement in appreciation of the great sacrifices and valour of the French people. Those present were as familiar as he was with the great work which had been performed by France; but he would say this : that if it had not -been for the tremendous efforts and sacrifices they had made in the war, if it had '.not been for the sustaining influence of the civilian population of that country, Great Britain would not now be in such a good position for carrying on the struggle. While we had shown a good deal of compassion for the Belgian people, and ha<3 assisted them with funds for the refugees—and we could never adequately discharge our obligation to them—what had we done as far as France was .concerned? The Mayor then alluded to France's heroic struggle, an 3to the devastation wrought by the German army in some of the most fertile lands of France. Since the start of the war the French people had shown the greatest kindness, to the British soldiers, including our own boys. Numerous letters received, from. New Zealand soldiers at the front testified" to their gratitude to the French people for the kindness they bad shown them. Were we in the Capita! City of New Zealand to do nothing—were we not. even to send an encouraging message to France in her dire necessity? NO SYMPATHY FKOM THE GOVERNMENT. Mr. Luke regretted' that they had not the_ sympathy and co-operation of the National Government. "It is a most regrettable feature associated with my position," remarked the Mayor, "that I have not had the co-operation of the National Government in conection with this appeal to-night. I sent the following letter to the Acting-Prime Minister :— Dear Sir, —I am convening a meeting of citizens and well-wishers to promote an organisation for the purposa of raising funds throughout the Dominion as a tribute to the valour and sacrifices of the French nation in connection with the war. . I will be glad if you will make it convenient to be present on, the occasion. Will you also be good enough, on my bet half to invite your colleagues to attend? I will be glad if you will attend the assembly.—Yours faithfully, (Sgd) J. P. LUKE, 1 Mayor. To that letter he received the following reply, in which Sir James Allen said :— I regret not being able to accept your .kind invitation to be present at the meeting of citizens to promote an organisation for the purpose of raising funds throughout the Dominion as a tribute to the valour and sacrifices of the French nation in connection with the war. The matter was placed before my. colleagues morning, and I regret that they will not be able to attend either. Might I draw your attention to the fact that we are already doing a great deal for 'the French, as we have established a hospital for repatries in France; and I doubt very much the wisdom of at- , tempting to raise further funds just now. The Acting-Prime Minister added that as the proposal to raise funds would no doubt require the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs, he was forwarding the Mayor's letter to Mr. Russell. | MORE MINISTERIAL OPPOSITION. "The Minister of Internal Affairs," continued Mr. Luke, "rang me up yesterday afternoon and told me that he was distinctly against the scheme we aro meeting to consider to-night." A voice : Why? The Mayor : "For one reason, that we have done a lot for the French pebple. I want to know what we have done in this way?" Mr. Luke said he had made enquiries, and found that up to the present time we had sent to the French Red Cross £17,069, and for the orphans £1400. The Lady Liverpool Fund throughout the Dominion had sent a large quantity of clothing. It was said that the British Red Cross also assisted the French Red Cross. He (Mr. Luke) could not see that we had discharged anything like our obligation to the French people by the amount we had sent. "And I do say this," he continued, "if it had been only to say a few words that would resell the French peopley-a few words of admiration and appreciation on behalf of the National Cabinpt—it was the duty of one of the Ministers to have been present to-night. (Applause.) I think sometimes," added the Mayor, "that our Cabinet Ministers, like others carrying on public affairs, have a good genius and an evil genius attending them, and I believe that his evil genius has been attending the Act-ing-Prime Minister, otherwise I do not think he would have erred in the way he has done." i " DELIBERATELY INTRIGUED." , Captain Barclay said after what they had heard from the Chair, ho would hesitate no longer in s,peaking quite freely as to what was the matter, and he thought they would be surprised when he stated certain things. If there was anyone who could contradict what he said, he hoped they would do so, because he would like to know that what he said was not" correct. For the last three years, they had been waiting to inaugurate a movement tr> 4 collect funds and show their appreciation of the Frencli nation. The first time it was propounded, he found that some other organisation was particularly anxious to get into the field first, and "we withdrew," remarked Captain Barclay. On the second time another, difficulty ww raised of a similar

sort. Everybody was so active in their patriotic work that it was higWy probable they were perfectly justified in asking that "we should hold our hands." They held their hands a second time. He had made it his business to ascertain particulars as to what was being done in France for the benefit and sustenance of the unfortunate sufferers. Through tho courtesy of the French officials, he had received information as to the institutions in France that needed our help. "But let me tell you what has happened," remarked Captain Barclay. "Would you believe it, that responsible people— or people who think they are responsible people—in the good city of "Wellington have deliberately intrigued to upset this meeting and make it a failure. That sounds bad enough ; but when I tell you that- these gentlemen in all. their efforts, in all their desire, to show their loyalty to their own particular interest, so fatforgot themselves as to stoop to this position : to suggest that we should be bought off for a few hundred pounds —. Ladies .and gentlemen, can yon believe that wo are living in a community where such a thing as that is possible? It staggered me. "A THREAT." /"Now, I will go a step further," added Captain Barclay. "The same influence has got to work amongst the powers that be. And here we get Sir James Allen, as Acting Prime Minister, acting head of the National Government, writing such a. letter as you have read. I am glad you have given us the opportunity of hearing that letter., What does that letter mean? It means, 'I have no sympathy with you,' ajid you may be perfectly sure the Minister for Internal Affairs will not give the necessary authority. That is what that letter means. Tt is a threat." Proceeding, Captain Barclay said': "Here is the Acting Prime Minister telling us that we must not do what our hearts prompt us to do, namely, give aid to our noble Ally. (Applause.) There is what thai means. . . . What, do we| get.? We get a clique—l use the word, clique—going round and exercising their influence with the Ministry of the day. ... I say it is absolutely contemptible." It would have been dignified if the Acting Prime Minister had come to that meeting and expressed his gratitude at what France had done. Not one Minister had come to the meeting to do even that. All lie could say was": "Poor Government!" Mr. J. Hutcheson : Poor Bumbles ! Captain Barclay then outlined the methods which had been suggested by which they were to carry out their object in the chief centres of the Dominion. "There is one thing, called the ballotbox, that will; not fail' to express the views of the people. That ij what I want, to emphasise, and I hope the whole twelve Ministers will take that home and digest it." Captain Barclay stated that it was proposed to devote the money raised to the French Red Cross and various soldiers' children's orphanages and .other similar institutions in France, "AGAINST GERMAN TYRANNY," "What are we asking?" exclaimed Captain Barclay. "Wr are asking for assistance for something that is worthy. We are asking that something should be done expressive of our appreciation of the immeasurable sacrifices, and sufferings of our noble Allies in their resolute stand against the German tyranny that has drenched Europe in blood," and theratened civilisation and all that is involved in that word." There were hundreds of thousands of French people in need of help. "Are we," he added, "going to be so selfish as to say that we want all our money for our own Red Cross? That we want all our money for our own efforts ? That we have done very well for France? I can't believe it. I say the thing is wicked. It is not. only stupid; it is wicked; it is heartless." He concluded by urging that a committee be immediately formed to carry out the. objects he had indicated. "FEELINGS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS." Mr. John Hutcheson said he could not remember ever having received so severe' a blow to all his sense of decency, gratitude, chivalry, and honour as he had that evening in listening to the letters read by the Mayor. He was not seeking martyrdom, but he would gladly go along with Paddy Webb for a similar time if the Government were bold enough to say to hjin that he could not do what his heart prompted him to do in this connection. He felt too deeply for words. He pointed out that we were working hand in hand with our French Ally, and our soldiers were fighting and dying in the same cause. He urged those present and those who thought with them, to press on, with their humane and noble purpose; and he paid a glowing tribute to "the heroic sons of France." Mr. Witherby asked if there was any legal restriction against carrying out the object proposed. The Mayor replied that so far as he know the only restriction was the provision in the War Regulations in respect to sending money out of the. country without the consent of the Government, j Mr. H. F. yon Haast said the consent of the Government had to be obtained in order to collect the money. _ Mr. Witherby thought the ■ legal position should be faced, and they should ascertain if the objection, if such existed, could be overcome. He expressed himself heartily in accord with the objects of the meeting. Captain Barclay remarked that a strong adverse element existed. Mr. John Hutcheson : What is it? Captain Barclay : I will tell you inj three words. The feeling if? that nothing should be done to interfere with tho success of the Red Cross funds. "A THUNDERBOLT." Mr. L. yon Haast said 1 it had come as a thunderbolt to him to hear the letter from the Government. He thought, however, it might prove to be the besb thing that could happen, because when it appeared in print it would arouse the people from their apathy. Like Mr. Hutcheson, he could not adequately express what he felt. He suggested that they should go behind tho Acting-Prime Minister and ask the Prime Minister direct if he had no sympathy for France. That gentleman would not dare to saythat. Mr. John Hutcheson , I don't believe it. Let a cablegram be sent. Mr. yon Haast said it might be illegal to collect, but it was not illegal to give. He then handed to the Mayor a cheque from Mrs. yon Haast and himself to support the object of the meeting. Mr. Seville strongly supported the movement and said he would be glad 1 to render all the service he could. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr. yon Haast, those present formed themselves into a committee, with power to add to their number, to carry out the objects stated. The Mayor was I appointed chairman of the committee. It' was also resolved that tho Mayor should ! arrange for ian interview with tho ! Acting-Prime Minister with the view of > ascertaining exactly what he meant in his letter.