ASSISTANCE TO BELGIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15728, 1 October 1914, Page 4

ASSISTANCE TO BELGIUM.

Sir, —Kindly grant mo enough of your esteemed space to support tho most valuable and practical proposal from the Kaipara Chamber of Commerce, mentioned in your columns. Tho proposal is, briefly, that the New Zealand Government should, 'when a suitable time arrives, purchase frozen meat and other New Zealand produce sufficient to fully load one of our largest refrigerator steamers, and forward it direct to the Belgian Government. The scheme has much to recommend it. Wo, in New Zealand, do not know—and let us hope we never will know—the meaning of distress as it is in Belgium to-day. And yet we owe to that brave people a debt which no sacrifice on our part will adequately repay. The fund for the assistance of Belgium is a move which merits our heartiest support. All honour to those who aro promoting it. Butready money is scarce, and will become harder to obtain as the war continues, whereas we have an abundance of those things which our bravo allies need; from £250,000 to £500,000 worth °f our produce could be sent without throwing our ordinary business out of its course. I have discussed this proposition with many farmers, and they unanimously endorse it as one that should lie carried out in a manner worthy of our Dominion. I should like to see the matter further discussed in your columns, and even to enlist the aid of your own able pen in support of the project. Edwin Harding. Dargaville, Sept. 26,1914.