APPEAL FOR CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27450, 25 July 1950, Page 6

APPEAL FOR CHILDREN

Total Far Short of Goal GREATER RESPONSE NEEDED “Dunedin is not responding to the United Nations appeal for the starving children of Europe and Asia.” said the president of the Dunedin branch of the United Nations Association, Dr J. P. Walsh, in a statement to the Daily Times yesterday. So far only about £2OOO had been collected out of the allocation for "the city of £37,000. The appeal lasted only until the end of next month, and unless the people of the city awoke to their responsibility the appeal would become a farce. The Appeal Committee was not able to visit every firm, said Dr Walsh. It was the duty of each firm to make itself responsible for the collection of one day’s pay both from its employees and itself. The international reputation of New Zealand and the national reputation of the city had always been high in generosity. This reputation was now at stake. It was recognised that New Zealand was one of the countries which was well off for food. On her contributions to this appeal she would be judged by the rest of the world. He, knew that people were sympathetic to' the appeal, but they were not showing their sympathy in practical terms. In Greece, there were 250,000 children living on starvation rations—in Palestine more than 500.000 were in the same position. The money which New Zealand people gave would be spent in the Dominion on New Zealand food. The food bought would probably be sent to the war-devastated areas of Europe. While it was realised that there were several other deserving appeals being made in this city at present, it had to be recognised that the appeal for the children was one of urgency. Donations to the appeal are being accepted at all banks and post offices throughout Dunedin and the town clerk, St. Kilda Town Hall.