ORPHANS OF BELGIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16268, 29 June 1916, Page 9

ORPHANS OF BELGIUM.

UNITED CHILDREN'S DAY.

The splendid response made by schoolchildren to the various patriotic appeals that have already been made on behalf of war-sufferers promises to find an echo in their ready answer to the call for help for the starving children of Belgium to be made all over the Empire on July 10. At yesterday's meeting of the Board of Education it was decided to send a memorandum to head-teachers expressing the board's approval of the appeal made by the Belgian Consul, Mr. A. M. Ferguson. This appeal takes the form of a circular letter to teachers and children, sotting forth the urgent need of the children of Belgium, many of whom are starving and homeless. Arrangements are being made for the printing and distribution of Id tickets, and if every child in every school contributes even this small amount a large sum will be added to the fund. From reports already to hand it is apparent that the children themselves are entering heartily into the scheme. The Belgian Relief Committee has headed the children's relief fund with a donation of £1000, and a number of additional .subscriptions have been received. The Consul for Belgium, Mr. A. M. Ferguson, wrote to th-3 Newmarket Borough Council last evening asking it to supplement the efforts of the schoolchildren of Newmarket, who were now collecting on behalf of the fund. Mr. Ferguson suggested that the council should stimulate public interest and sympathy in the work. Any contributions that might reach the council could be used to augment the local school fund, or they could be handed over to the " Starving Belgium Children Fund," which had just been opened at the consulate. The council decided to ay-operate with the headmaster of the Newmarket school in connection with the matter.