GREEK AIDS WOMEN BY ORGANISATION OF WHITE CROSS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6813, 17 January 1929, Page 4

GREEK AIDS WOMEN BY ORGANISATION OF WHITE CROSS

Needs of Helpless Girls of Nation Ministered to by Greek Patriot.

ATHENS. The Greek White Cross organisation, under tho leadership of Spiro Matscuba, a prominent Greek social worker, has rendered distinguished services to this country by ministering to the needs of the poorer classes and syiecially helpless young girls, orphaned by the war, thousands of whom have been enabled to form happy and prosperous homes.

Mr. Matsouka has been a lawyer, a soldier, a politician, a poet and a social worker. Ho is the pure reflection of the Greek country people in their most salient virtues; hospitality, sincerity, piety, patriotism and love of work. Two things, he said to your correspondent ho.vo influenced his life most; his village and Ms parents. Mr. Matsouka started his public activity in 1909 by making a collection among Greeks in America. Ho went from one town to another in the States, delivering speeches and pointing out how much the mother country needed the assistance of her prosperous sons abroad. Ho returned to Grceco with the sum of £IOO,OOO. Greece needed instruments of defence. The funds ho brought from America were utilised for military purposes. Eight guns and a war vessel—the New Generation —were bought with this sum. With his volunteers brought from America, Mr. Matsouka entered the war against Turkey and achieved many acts of valor.

The White Cross dreamed of has already boon organised and turned into an instrument of blessing, especially to the girls who on account of the war,have been left helpless. Up to date, about 2500 girls under the auspices of tho White Cross have boon able to form happy homes. Mr. Matsouka has no definite financial resources at his disposal, except that of tho munificence of the Greek peoplo. Tho Greey Government having greatly appreciated his services to the country, proposed to assign him a pension of 15,000 drachmas monthly, but he refused and that that 3000 would bo sufficient for him. His brothers in his native village are quite well-to-do people. His humble cottage is situated at tho foot of the hallowed rook, tho Acropolis; it has no locks or bolts; its doors are wide open to give a ready welcome to the weary and the hungry.

Ho believes that a direct understanding of the Scriptures is one of the most vital things for the salvation of humanitw