WAR HORTICULTURAL RELIEF FUND.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 21, 15 March 1918, Page 4

WAR HORTICULTURAL RELIEF FUND.

(The Editor Pelorus Guardian, Havelock.) Sir, —I venture to ask for the courtesy of your space to draw attention to the work of the above Fund. We have all been so intent on winning the war, and, if not actually fighting, have been so immersed in various kinds of work which conduce to that end, that we have had little time for considering the great work of reconstruction that awaits us when the war is over and peace has been declared.

That there will bo a prodigious work to be done is a fact which admits of no shadow of doubt. One special part of this work, which I now write to draw attention to, will be the restoration to life and fertility of the thousands of ruined and devastated orchards, gardens, and nurseries of our Allies —the French, the Serbs, the Poles, the Belgians, the Roumanians, the Italians — and so enabling their peasant proprietors to resume their aforetime accustomed mode of livelihood. The sacrifices that these peoples have been called upon to make have been incomparably greater than our own, and made in the same great cause. We have now, however,'the opportunity of repaying, to some extent, the debt of gratitude and sympathy which we owe them. Moreover, in so doing, we shall be assisting to a new prosperity the nations which wo hope to see arise out of the present turmoil, and shall be helping to lay the foundations of a new international sympathy, confidence and peace. It is believed that these objects can be effectively assisted by the timely supply and distribution to the victims of Hun barbarity, of seeds, plants, trees, cuttings, implements and tools, accompanied by expert advice and horticultural education. The scope for this work is appallingly great, and the situation must be grappled with the moment peace permits. The War Horticultural Relief Fund, with the King and Queen as Patrons, is now devoting itself to collecting throughout the Empire funds to be used in the manner indicated. A strong Administrative Committee in London is making all the preparations which present circumstances permit, for starting work at the earliest possible moment. Something, indeed, has already been done.

It is confidently hoped that the appeal of this Fund will meet with special sympathy and support in New Zealand. As a country we have suffered less, materially, on account of the war than any other country—belligerent or neutral—and we have achieved, as it was right we should, a proud preeminence in the generosity of our gifts to war charities.

But the needs to be met by the War Horticultural Relief Fund are so crying and insistent that a further appeal is now made with the utmost confidence; and it is hoped to give every individual in the Dominion the opportunty of subscribing to the Fund. Offers of help will be gladly received and further information supplied. Donations may also be forwarded (cheques crossed "Union Bank of Australia, Auckland") to E. MAYFIELD, Lieut.-Colonel, Representative of the War Horticultural Relief Fund in New Zealand. Tauranga, 28-2-18.