RUSSIAN FAMINE APPEAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18089, 13 May 1922, Page 10

RUSSIAN FAMINE APPEAL.

MISS THORP'S LECTURE. \ Miss Margaret Thoi-p, who recently returned from Europe, where she was engaged M relief work under the auspices of the Society of Friends, gave a most interesting and lucid account of European conditions to tiie children of the Takapuna school. The speaker ffr«**.? i *" l J7 described the sufferings of the children and the aged, especially in district* »nei-e typhus and cholera, the diseases that follow in the wake of starvation, had played such havoc. She told of tile erstwhile rich and talented of Austria, who, too proud to were suffering from the effects of the division of Austria-Hungary, which had left Austria more or leaa isolated regarding the necessities of life. In Poland tfoe people were gradually getting back to their villages, where they were, with the assistance of the society, making strenuous efforts to rebuild their homes and to maintain their national independence. In Russia pestilence and famine had done their worst. Great quantities of food, from England and America, were beinc sent to the country and distributed among the poor. With the assistance of the Government regarding transport, the society was enabled to distribute food with only one-half per cent, of material going astray. In Samara, there existed what was called the " Death House," an institution where children who could no longer be supported by their parents were taken. Over four hundred were in the home, but the doctors and nurses, exhausted from over-work and weak from lack of food, oould do litifle to help the little ones, who lay helpless and silent. " It would have been a relief," uaid Miss Thorp, " to hare heard the children cry." Miss Thorp appealed to the children to think of those beyond the seas, explaining thafy the spirit which prompted help to our one-time enemies would do much to form a friendship v which would minimise tho possibilities of future wars. An illustrated lecture on the famine conditions in Russia will be given by Miss Thorp, in the Town Hall, on Tuesday ovening. Miss Thorp is described as an excellent lecturer, who spoke to crowded audiences in the Sydney Town Hall. The Mayor, M. J. H. Gunson, will preside, and a collection in aid of the fund will bo taken up.