AFTER THE WAR

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13146, 29 August 1914, Page 4

AFTER THE WAR

HELPING THE STRIOKEN PEOPLES i- - v 1

K Per Press Association, ( WELLINGTON, rAiigust^23. : Thorn was a representative meeting' 1 of -leading .])usincss Wellington arranged by tliP Wellington'branc); of thq New : Zealand-' Sports -,-v. League at, noon to-day to form a : Britain ; and Ireland'' Ilqlief FuiiA throughout,the distiict. .. Mr C. P. Skerrett explained thati the ■■ •promoters of the movement-in, Christ- , church, ihnd asked; that a ; committee ~of citizens be formed'to manage the fund in the Wellington district, and it was decided that all those present together , with Mr Park, secretary of the Farmers' Union and several others who, nqtifi- ■, eel;thoir willingness: to; act,*form.themr • selves into a general committee,; with■ power to add to their numbers. •

The fololwing were appointed an executive: . Chairman, Mr C.', P. K.C.,; Vice-Chairman, Mr;J.; B. Harcourt; lion; treasurer, Mr lan G. Duncan. Committee—Messrs, T; S. Weston,*. M. <. Kennedy, 0. W. TKngham, Hon. Dr Collins, M.L.C.,'Geo. Shirtcliffe, C. G. WiL

•Secretaries—Messrs •R. W; . and W. Pryor. , Some • discussion took place • jupon a'. suggestion made to extend the relief to Belgium and it, was decided to ap?.. prove the suggestion, that the administration of the gift at Home should be left with .the executive of the Prince of Wales's Fluid, vMfcli power to denote,, such portion as they deein necessary to the Belgian poor. ./ ' ' ' Very - satisfactory reports Vere received of the progress of the movement' in' tlio Canterbury and country districts. ■ . ; ; The Executive Committee will meet, to consider means, of further promoting';., the fund iii the city.

THE PLUCKY. BELGIANS. ..(To the Editor of "The Times. , '') Sir, —At the request of subscribers here, I am asking you and the editors of other influential journals to . open a fund' for the relief of Belgiaiis ruined by the German invasion. . King Albert's brave people have the-first call upon us on the following grounds:— (1) That, having taken up arms to fight the common foe, the Belgian nation is sacrificing its' finest manhood, and has laid its .flourishing' provinces under the booted' heel of the callous invader; the people's homes have been ' violated, and many of their towns 'have been

\vrecked. ■ (2) If, instead of offering armed resistance, they had accepted German bribes; the enemy would have carried out its plan of campaign witli- . outhindrance, have invaded- France, and established strong strategic positions during the early stages of the war. (D) The stubborn resistance of BelH|4 u, S- i!' as li-in.;; fact, bent ithg, edge of the German < aOTJV;"wMMift tlie Allies'-prospects of ultimate victory. This litis saved the.Ak lies many millions sterling, and must reduce their death-roll considerably, (4) Belgium's noblest service to civilisation perhaps lies in the 1 fact that she is fighting for the principle of international honour. Prom the first beat of the drum she fully real-' ised that, even with the best fortune of war, she could iiot keep the armies of of her fair land. By-unsheathing the sword, Belgium again became the cockpit of Europe, ■. (5) It is therefore the first duty, and it should be the pleasure, of. people ; in' the overseas dominions, living in peace and far from the awful field of conflict, to do all that lies in their powers to recoup the Belgians for the supremo sacrifices they have made.

It is proposed that the fund now be ing instituted shall be known.as "The Belgian Relief Fund," To keep it (listiuct from the other patriotic and relief, funds in this Dominion, it is suggested that it should be conducted by the Press, acting in conjunction with' tlie mayors of Towns, Chairmen of County Councils, and chairmen of other local bodies.

The distribution of the fund Shall be at the discretion of a committeo set up, with the Hon. Charles Johnson, Belgian Consul-General, Wellington, as its Chairman.'

• To make the appeal a success it must have the full .sympathy and support of the Preps, ami [ think Tain right suming that you will lend your'valuable paper and your influential pen to the, object in view— I am, etc., 1 AV. 11. WJUTLOCK,. Editor,'' Hawke'h Bay Tribune." ■.