SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18574, 29 November 1920, Page 6

SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND.

VIEWS OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. Reference to the Starving Children of Europe Fund was made at the meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association at Wellington on Saturday. The question was raised as to what attitude the R.S.A. should take in the matter. Mr W. E. Leadley (Christchurch) considered that they should first attend to the nation's own requirements. There were, for instance, 25,000 ex-officers alone unemployed in England, and many of them had families. They should also look to the dependents of their fallen comrades. He moved that no action be taken. ''a Mr J. D. Harper (Wellington) moved m as an amendment: '* That the Dominion ' Executive commend the support of local associations to the fund." He thought they shoxdd look at the matter in a broad light, and show that they were not selfish in having regard purely for their own interests. He believed that there was sufficient money in the country to adequately look after the Dominion's own needs and to help the Starving Children of Europe Fund as well. There was undoubtedly great distress in the countries, of our own Allies, i Mr C. W.. Batten (Wellington) agreed with tße. general tenor of Mr Harper's remarks, but not with his amendment at present, as he thought they should have more information at their disposal, and should ask a representative of the fund to attend anct explain before they voted. They should know more, for instance, about how the fund was going to be dispersed. It had been suggested that New Zealand could help best by adopting, say, a town in and providing work for the population. Personally, he thought the. idea was a good one. The amendment was lost, and thai motion carried*