FOR FRANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9998, 15 June 1918, Page 8

FOR FRANCE

HER. FRIENDS UNDAUNTED.

FUNDS TO BE) RAISED FOR* FRENCH ALLIES.

Nothing dismayed by the unsympathetic attitude of the powers tliat be tho friends of France, the gallant Ally of the Empire, intend going on -with their efforts to raise money to help tho people of that fair land, so foully ravished by tho invading Huns. The Cerclo Francais at its last meeting resolved as follows:—"That in tho opinion of this meeting, the action of the Government in opposing a public subscription in aid of the French sufferers by the war is as -unjustifiable as it is uncalled for, and wo trust the Government will at once withdraw its opposition and support the Each ono prosont asked to be added to the permanent committee already formed under the presidency of the Mayor. Sir Francis, Bell, who was vice-presi-dent of the Cercle Francais, is to be to join tho Relief Committee. "If Sir Francis accepts," says Captain Barclay, "ho will be in good company, for we expect that the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, who is also a vicepresident, will agree to join the committee, in accordance with his practice of taking a broad-minded view of things." THE OBJECTS. Commenting on statements that local British Red Cross representatives and departmental officers had no know, ledge of any appeal from France, Captain Barclay says that those gentlemen would have received definite information if they had token the trouble to attend the public meeting on Tuesday evening. If any Minister of the Grown had deigned to accept the invitation, tho captain continued, he would have had an opportunity to understand plain French if he could not, or would not, understand plain English, as the reasons for the appeal were read in the two languages. Captain Barclay read (at tho meeting) the following extract from a letter which ho received recently from the French Consul (Auckland) : "Half of the sums collected will be used for tho French Red'Cross ajid the other half will be shared equally among the following objects for which urgent appeals have been made to the Vice-Consulato for the assistance of tho sufferers in the greatest need of help or for tho comfort of the brave soldiers of France." This list is : No- I.—The National Association fos French Orphans of the War. No- 2.—Tho Home of the Blind Soldiers. No. 3.—The work for the household needs of Lorraine. No. 4.—The work for national reconstruction. No. s.—France's memorial to her sailors. No. 6.—. Shower baths for soldiers at tho front. So. 7.—" Work for tho French Day (Fans). No. B.—Work for tho clothing of the 16th Ward, Paris. No. 9.—Work for tho refugees from the invaded Departments. No. 10.—'French war work, at the committee's choice. MINISTER'S STATEMENT. "I have recoived tho application for a permit," stated the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs) to a "Times" representative yesterday. "I am obtaining a report from tho department on it, and this wilt be submitted to Cabinet for consideration."