BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2700, 20 April 1915, Page 4

BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

HELP FOR THE STARVING.

The Belgian Commission cabled on February 22nd a long appeal to Aus- * l r o™ «™ 3Slew - Zealand f ° r continuous supreme efforts on behalf of the 7,000,000 starving Belgians They state that a sum of £1,250,000 must be provided every month. In Brussels alona 200,000 people wait in the snow tor bread. In Liege 30,000 old men. Avomen, and children and cripples wait for the half-pound of bread and litre of soup Avhich enable them to live Babies and children are barely kept alive for want of milk. The Commission expresses the fear that the amazing self-restraint of the people in suppressing their inevitable hatred of the Germans will collapse under the impelling anguish of hunger. A hunger strike would be desperately tragic, and, in _ their unarmed futility, they would suffer the inevitable consequences, and bo shot like ravenous dogs. "Will Australia and New Zealand stand by and await calmly such an end to the noble eacrfiico of the Belgians? Only a stupendous organised effort can avert a catastrophe. Four good sized cargoes of cereals must be sliipped to Belgium weekly, or tho Belgian nation to the world's eternal shame, must perish. The Commission undertakes to carry the cargoes of relief supplies free. Wheat and money are chiefly required. A sum of £75,000 would fill a 1000 ton ship with cargo and keep Belgium from starvation for two days. Will Australia and New Zealand give £75,000, or its equivalent in food monthly? The effort must not be only superhuman, but continuous. In support of this appeal, the Feilding Branch of the Farmers' Union Relief Fund Committee has decided to continue their efforts on behalf of the heroic Belgians, and trust that eA'ery resident in the district will, according to his or her means, respond to this call. You are asked to cut out the following Coupon, fill in the necessary particulars, and forward same, with the first month's instalment, to the Hon. Secretary, Mr J. It. Perry, Secretary Farmers' Union, Fergusson Street, Feilding.

COUPON. ' f undertake to contribute monthly for three months to the Feilding Farmers' Union Relief Fund Committee, for the relief of the Belgians, tbe sum ©f per month. Name: ', , Address: --- I hereby forward Avith coupon the first monthly instalment. To J. R. Perry, Secretary, Fergusson Street, Feilding.