BELGIUM'S SACRIFICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15753, 30 October 1914, Page 8

BELGIUM'S SACRIFICE.

RECOGNITION IN AUCKLAND CITIZENS GIVING FREELY. WEALTHY AND POOR ASSIST. SPECIAL WEEK'S APPEAL. COMPLETING ARRANGEMENTS. The appeal for praetiral expressions of sympathy with the peoplo of Belgium is being answered by the citizens of Auckland in a generous fashion. Members of the executive who arc engaged in collecting subscriptions in the business area of tho citv have ieceived donations ranging from 2s Cxi to £100, and many promises of subscriptions. Writing to the Belgian Consul, Mr. Edward Anderson, of Remuera, ha-s forwarded a cheque for £10, and an undertaking to subscribe a similar sum per month for a year, making a total subscription of £120. "Although many people are- giving freely to the fund," Mr. Anderson wrote, "1 am convinced that many of us have not yet realised what each and nil of us owe to the Belgian people. Their devotion to the principles i of patriotism, liberty, and honour, and the nameless horror they have endured on our behalf, are surely worth more than a week's sacrifice. I am convinced that each one of us should put aside a fair amount each month for the next 12 months. If this plan were generally adopted the funds now being raised in New Zealand would bo worthy of the Dominion and its people." A widow, who wrote to the effect that | she was unable to make a subscription in money, has sent to the executive of the fund her gold watch and chain. The jewellery has evidently been treasured for 1 many years, and it has been accepted by the executive with sincere appreciation, an expression of which has been conveyed to the lady. The watch and chain will be sold by auction, and the proceeds will be paid into the fund. Many people in the city who have been approached by the collectors have already subscribed, but the spirit pervading the whole community has been found to be that the appeal cannot be ignored. Men who have already subscribed freely to the various funds have opened their purses again with sincere expressions of sympathy with the movement. The employees of one firm, who have been making monthly subscriptions to the Patriotic Fund, have arranged, as" the latter is now suspended, to make a record collection next week for the Belgian Fund.

Further arrangements for " Belgian Week" were made by the executive of the Auckland Provincial Belgian Relief Fund yesterday afternoon. Messrs. Robert Burns, W. H. Pountney, A. C. Caughey, Wesley Spragg, E. Anderson, A. G. Lunn, and Charles Rhodes, and Mesdames C. J. Parr and Volkner, were present.

The offer •of the Auckland centre of the New Zealand Athletk and Cycling Union to promote a sports meeting in the Domain was accepted with thanks. The gross proceeds of the meeting are to be devoted to the fund. Mr. Neville Newcomb was appointed to act with the sports committee in the making of the arrangements.

Belgian Week" will be from November 11 to November 17. It was decided to invite Dr. A. W. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, to give an address on the opening day, and Dr. H. W. Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, to give an address on "Belgium" on November 12. A request is being made to the proprietors of the various picture theatres in Auckland asking them to devote one night's takings to the fund, it being the intention of the committee to give a stirring street advertisement for each night. A special request will be mado to the clergy of all denominations to make an urgent and stirring appeal to their congregations on Sunday, November 15, for large collections in aid of the poor and distressed Belgiums. A house-to-house collection, to receive donations of clothing, will be made on Monday, November 16. by a committee comprising Messrs. J., Milne, J. 8. Ewen, Neville Newcomb, arid N. J. Kidd.