WAR ORPHANS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 72, 26 March 1938, Page 15

WAR ORPHANS

SPANISH SITUATION

NEW ZEALAND TO ASSIST

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.

Gn 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. Robertson 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 towards the establishment of a home for twenty children on the lines of homes already established by groups in- England, France, and the United States of America.; , '

It was the meeting that the home would probably be in France, advice; having been received from Paris that: many: houses near1 the frontier were available for such purposes. Voluntary Kelp 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 ; £14,-so. that the commitment would not be great. A thousand pounds would set the orphanage going. ■■••..-',■

The campaign is to be 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 asit qic 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 Tuesday:—The Rev. ( W. H. P. McKenzie, Mr. J. Aimers, representing the Victoria College Students' Association, Mr. W. P. Rollings, Mr. D. Doig, Miss M. England, and Miss E. Deste.