MONEY FOE CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20217, 30 March 1929, Page 12

MONEY FOE CHINA.

100 GUINEAS TROM CITY. DECISION BY THE COUNCIL. SPIRITED PROTEST VOICED. A donation of 100 guineas to the Mayor's fund for the relief of the faminestricken in China wa.s mado by the Auckland City Council cn Thursday evening, after spirited sectional opposition. In accordanco with a notice of motion Mr. A. J. Entrican moved that, the donation should be made. He emphasised the urgency of relief, as it had been reported that already 16,000,000 deaths had occurred. The gift, although small, would be a gesture of friendship. In seconding Mr. J. W. Kealy recalled the generosity of Chinese in New Zealand toward hospitals and kindred institutions. The calling of a public meeting to ascertain the views of citizens on the proposal was suggested by Miss E. Melville. While sympathising with the proposal, she pointed out that the Government of China was in such a state of chaos that there was no certainty the money would be forwarded to the right quarter. Miss Melville also said the New Zealand Government had not given a lend on the question. "Charity begins at home," said Mr. E. J. Phelan. "There are men hungry in this city to-night, and if we have any money to give away, we should give it to those who need it here. I know Mr. Entrican is perfectly sincere in his attitude, but I am opposed to sending money overseas while we have trouble here." The motion was supported by Mr. T. Bloodworth. Because charity began at home, it did not necessarily end there, he said. The British Empire was not altogether blameless for the circumstances in China, and the least that could bo done was to send some small sum to assist in a very urgent cause. Mr. 0. Mcßrine concurred in those sentiments. Miss Melville moved an amendment that in the absence of action by the Go%-ern-ment, a meeting of citizens should be called to discuss the advisability of inaugurating a fund. This found only six supporters, and Mr. Entrican's motion was carried.

PRESBYTERIAN APPEAL. MILLIONS IX DIRE NEED. The present devastating famine in China was considered by the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church at its last meeting and a resolution calling attention to the desperate ' conditions existing and appealing to the generosity of church members and of the public generally was adopted. In moving this resolution the secretary, the Rev. W. Mawson, who was for 20 years engaged in mission work in the Canton district, said that for outsiders the position had hitherto been obscured by the prevalence of civil war and banditry, but the evidence of responsible observers now showed that famine existed in a devastating degree. Nearly a year ago tho China Famine Relief Fund estimated that 15,000.000 were in dire need, and a conservative estimate places tho number of those suffering from a shortage of life necessities at the present time at, 25,000,000.