"SAVE THE CHILDREN" MOVEMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17942, 22 May 1920, Page 6

"SAVE THE CHILDREN" MOVEMENT.

MBE'iING OF EXECUTIVE. A mooting of tho ex« - utivo of tho Eocicty formed in connection with an effort to isu'so funds to assist tho starving children of Europo was hold in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, Mr Mark Coheni presiding. Mr Cohen read a telegram received from Mr G. W. Da vies, a<jting oEfioor in ohargo of tho War Funcb Oftico, which set ont that the Otago Daily Times of the 13th inst,. had announced tliat a committeo to raiso moneys for Europe's starving children had been established, and that the approval to raising such a fund had been declined by the Minister after the fullest inquiries. Collections made would, therefore, be illegal and permits under section 33 of tho War l'Hmd Act might not bo issued. The acting offioer asked that the secretarv of the movement submit an application for tho Mi:: tar's approval, together with any authors.o information tnat would tend to justify a reconsideration of the deoision given. The 1 sum of £5000 had already beon provided from the dominion patriotic funds to "Save tho Cliildron Fund." It was considered that an Appeal to the public fras at prc'S*»t unnecessary. Mr Cohen, also road a letter from Christchuroh bearing upon the subject, which stated that it s?omod tho Oorernment did not interest itself in thi» (helping starving children) movement, and was rather agamst granting any 'help. It would therefore, bo as woll at the next meeting of the committoo in I>uned in to take stops to make tho position clear to Mr G. J. Anderson, tho now Minister of Internal Affairs, who had the matter in hand, and to aak for hifl personal aid. It seemed to tho writer (Mr Willi Fela) th tho Government was taking up an inimical attitude towards a work of love and oharity, which was being inaugurated all over the world Ihoee in the dominion, living jd abundance ought to find eom® sutphis cash to help tho poor starving children of Europe. Mr Cohen said, Wellington 'waa staying its hands at present until the rxooutive here could placo before iho Minister in charge the reason why a larger sum o; money ought to bo sent to Europe. The Minister said £5000 had now been forwarded, but the people would raise another £5000. The object waa to raise sufficient, with other centres, for requirements, and approach tho Government with a request to subsidise the sum raised. Th© Government ait Homo had done that. They would see that from the initiation of the movement in England the British .Government had subscribed half a million. The idea was each centro should subscribe from £3000 to £3 XX), bringing the total up to £20,0C0, which would' bo ample for our little dominion. It did seem as if tho Government did not. interest itself in this matter. 110 (Mr Cqhen) had £150 in hand, but it would be necessary before any steps could be taken with regard to the money that the consent of the Minister in charge to the movement be obtained. It waa for tlKmeeting to say, in view of tho communications received, what course should be taken. He would 'like to see authority given to Mr Denniston to open an account at the bank and deposit tho funds he fMr Cohen) had in hand. He would get through the preliminary portion of the meeting _bv moving, as chairman, that Mr Denniston, as treasurer, be authorised to open an account with the National Bank of Now Zealand, and bo authorised to issue any chequo that it might bo necessary to sign. ITie motion was declared carried. It waa suggested that the executive bo reduced in number, bait it was pointed out. in that connection that it would bo better to wait and see whether they could <*et the Minister's consent to go forward with the movement before reducing the committee.

It was resolved that the chairman and Archdeacon Curzon-Siiargers prepare a m-ca-&age for transmission to the Minuter of Internal Affi&irs, asking hirn _ to give the objects of the soci-otv immediate attention and grant it permission to proceed. it was subsequently aereod that the two gentlemen named, together with members of Parliament, be s.utnoris-cd to urge umr the Minister the granting oi permission for the society to proceed with its work.