CHINESE WAR ORPHANS

Evening Star, Issue 22975, 4 June 1938, Page 11

CHINESE WAR ORPHANS

MANY THOUSANDS DESTITUTE AND HOMELESS . APPEAL LAUNCHED IN DOMINION £4 REQUIRED FOR EACH CHILD fPea United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 3, The plight of many thousands of Chinese children orphaned as the result of the conflict with the Japanese has aroused the sympathy of the people of New Zealand, who have contributed generously to the recent Far East Relief Appeal, and a movement is now afoot to raise funds to “adopt” a certain number of children by paying for their upkeep, the amount being computed at £4 a year for each child. The scheme originated in the mind of Madame Chiang Kai-shek, who, in an open letter to members of the branch association of the Chinese Women’s Relief Association in New Zealand, stated:— There are tens of thousands of war orphans who are destitute, homeless and uncared-for. Our women here have undertaken, as a first step, to arrange to care for 20,000 of these little ones, and I am wondering whether it would be possible for the women in New Zealand and their colleagues to raise funds for this project. They might 'try to interest various towns and cities to “ adopt ” a certain number of orphans by paying for their upkeep and, if such a plan could be carried out, we shall be glad to send group photographs of the children “ adopted.” These children, of course, will know to whom they belong after the “ adoption ” had been made.” With the idea of launching a national appeal, a number of prominent Wellington people met to discuss the scheme, when it was decided to communicate with all inter-ested-organisations and to hold a public meeting on June 16. Appreciation of the enthusiasm of those sponsoring the appeal was expressed by the Chinese Consul, Mr Wang Feng, in an interview. “As a result of the war thousands upon thousands of young children in China are now bereft of parents, homes, and schools,” he said. “As the fighting continues their number increases steadily. The Association for War Refugee Children in China, which was sponsored by Madame Chiang, is now making a drive for funds. They estimate it will cost 60 Chinese dollars, which is approximately £4 in New Zealand currency, to house, feed, clothe and educate in a simple way one child for a year. Their immediate object is to care for 20,000 children and, later, to support as many as their funds will allow. Their plan is to make use of the environment and put these children through a strict training and proper guidance so that they will become builders of New China after the war and, at the same time, become enthusiastic supporters for world peace and the progress of humanity as a whole. “ The people of New Zealand, with their intense love of children and their strong sense of humanity, will naturally not fail to'give a response to Madame Chiang’s appeal, but, we must remember that they have already given help to China by sending medical doctors for the relief of her sick and wounded. Although we do not wish to overburden them, we nevertheless would be very grateful if they would give what little help they can. If each of the social institutions in the towns and cities of this Dominion will under* take to support only one of these fatherless children, a few hundred of them, at least, .vill be saved from victims of war.” “I would be very grateful indeed if the people of New Zealand would take up this appeal of Madame Chiang’s, and do what they can to succour some of these helpless victims of war.