AIR RAIDS ON LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17174, 29 November 1917, Page 6

AIR RAIDS ON LONDON

HELP FOR THE SUFFERERS. NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL CHILDREN'S \ GIFT. (Fhou Oub Own Cobbkspondbnt ) LONDON, September 7. The High Commissioner's Office has already received £500 from Wellington and £170 from Southland on account of the subscription made by New Zealand! school children for the benefit of school <hildren in East London, who suffered by the German air raids in the spring. The movement was, reported in cables from New Zealand, which were published here within a, tew days of the raids taking place, and consequently the authorities concerned had ample time to approach, the High Commissioner with suggestions for the expenditure of the money. There was, however, considerable difficulty in deciding to what authorities the funds should be entrusted. The L.C.C., which is probably the most enterprising authority in the world as regards the education and tho social welfare of children, controls most of the schools which were affected. Its Education Committee had already in hand a scheme for giving East End children short holidays in tho country, and it was felt in some quarters that the money subscribed by New Zealand school children could not be better applied than in assisting this scheme. The borough of Poplar comprises the area most affected by tho raids, and the Mayor of tho borough was also an obvious official to bo consulted.

Mr H. C. Cameron, who is in charge of this department of the High Commissioner's Office, tells me that the money was subscribed, according , to their advice, for the relief of children injured' in the raid.' They found on inquiry that t-hero were really very few casualties suffered by children, but a considerable number had suffered' from shook. The matter of providing for them had been taken in hand by the L.C.C. and the 'Mayor of Poplar, who were arranging for the sufferers to .go with their parents for short holidays into the country. _ , ~ « "When we came to inquire," Mr Cameron adds, "wo found that there was no need of much assistance, and that no special, fund wns being raised for the purpose in England. Wo have, however, ' paid out several amounts to help to carry out the objects already referred to, but up to date we have not been able to make suitable use of all the money which has been sent home. The war is not over yet, however, and it would not do to assume that there will not be further call for such help. In the meantime, it can only be said that we have not been called upon to spend all the money which has been sent to us in order to do our fair share of what is considered necessary." Tho Mayor of Poplar, Mr A. H. Warren, replies as follows to my request for some information:—"The money forwarded by the children of New Zealand for tho relief of children suffering from <iir raJds has added to a fund that the Right Hon. William Crooks, M.P., and myself have been able to form, and from it wo have sent, away into the country for a fortnight each, and in some cases longer, some 90 mother-> and 250 children, mostly those who attended the school in which tho 18 dear little ones -were killed. This brief holiday has been of the utmost value in helping to recupcrato and recover from nerve-shock these women and children. Without this kindly thought and synroa-thy I hardly know what we should have done. There arc still some of tho children in hospital, arid as they become sufficiently convalescent they will also bo sent away. If you have any opportunity, will you express the deep thanks of the Right Hon. William Crooks, myself, and the ladies of my committee to tho children of New Zealand for their kindness and practical hcipZ" %