RUSSIAN FAMINE APPEAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 420, 10 June 1922, Page 6

RUSSIAN FAMINE APPEAL.

LOCAL LADIES ACTIVE. The following reply has been received by the Mayor, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., from the Department of Internal Affairs, with regard to the representations (conveyed through him) of a deputation from the W.C.T.U., for information as to by what means donations for the Russian relief were being collected and distributed:—“l have to advise you that authority has been given the Government for the raising of funds for the relief of distress in the famine districts of Russia. In reference to appeals from! the Save ihe Children Fund, the chairman I of the Red Cross in England, and the j Imperial War Relief Commiu.ee have coordinated and formed an all-British appeal , committee with headquarters at London. 1 All funds for Russia are paid into the joint; ’ appeal, or into the separate societies under ■ the control of this committee, thus prevent-j ing overlapping in the work, expense in administration, and economy in the buying of stores. Large sums have already been transmitted from the Dominion, and the total amount raised and sent direct to the Russian fund (apart from donations of over £6s,ooo*sent for general distress in Europe), is £4195 Is 7d. The latest advice from the High Commissioner show's that notwithstanding the large amount of money received, from all parts of the world, necessity still exists for the continued relief of ■ both children and adults in the famine illsj tricts, and that this will bo required until such time as a crop was reaped in the coming season. In connection with funds raised by individual towns in New Zealand, when the sum reaches over £IOO, kitchens hearing the name of New Zealand towns are established in the famine areas, and the money supplied is used there as long as it lasts, so that in the event ol ■ collections being made in Palmerston North, it will be possible to Identify a kitchen within the area with Palmerston North. Ihe | relief scheme provides that every child shall be able to rely on a nourishing meal daily, the administrative cost being so low that j each child can be fed for the sum ol lid 1 per meal, or Is per week. At present, subscriptions are coming in freely from all | parts of the Dominion, and a regular j weekly ri'mirtaiiee L being forwarded to I the headquarters in London. > through the ; High (.'onim'ssioie-r lor New Zealand, through whom tirnuigemeiiU have been I made." that wherever possible New Zealand, foodstuffs be purchased mid transferred to ■ the {amine areas.” \ I Yesterday ahenioon a number ol mem ; j hers of the W.t'.T.l , met in the Mayor’s room, Borough Council Chambers, and eon- ! sidered the position. The Mayor p.vs ded j and put the oorrespoudenee before the meeting, njoiig with a communication, advising that .Miss Thorp was giving lantern lectures throughout the Dominion, in aid of the Save the Children ol Russia I*amine I Fund. . . j The meeting decided to extend an invita-1 lion to Miss Thorp to lecture hi Palmerston! North. . j At the request of the meeting Mr Nash . undertook to make a public appeal for j assistance in raising lands to relieve dis- . tress in the famine areas and also to ask the ministers of Palmerston North to bring the subject under the notice of their congregations. A public meeting in connection with the fund is to he convened early next week.