THE BELGIUM FUND AND LOCAL BODIES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 456, 27 July 1915, Page 6

THE BELGIUM FUND AND LOCAL BODIES.

To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —I decided some time ago not to notice statements in your columns on the above subject, because it appeared to me the writers were animated by a desire to "draw a red herring" across the scent, with the obvious intention of confusing the main point and prejudicing the fund. But the letter signed "David Jones" in your issue last Saturday evening breathes such a spirit of sweet reasonableness in its temperate criticism that I am tempted to reply to some of the points raised therein; and perhaps I should first thank Mr Jones for affording me an opportunity to remove some of the misconceptions which previous misleading statements were calculated to create. But first, why does he persist in using the word "demand," as applied to the civil request of our committee to the local bodies' for the monthly quotas, after the repeated disavowals of any such intention on our part. Mr Jones does not write, apparently, as if he wished to prejudice the fund, and yet he must realise that in attributing such an autocratic attitude to our committee he must do. so.

We were well aware of our inability to enforce payment; hence anything in the nature of a demand was never for a moment contemplated. The South Canterbury District, having already taken action on the lines indicated in our "request," after decision by a conference of delegates of local bodies, we, not unnaturally, I think, concluded that similar bodies in North Canterbury would be prepared to do their share on similar lines, especially as the basis adopted had the merit of placing the least burden on those least able to bear it. The urgent appeal Mr Jones refers to came from the neutral Belgium Commission, who alone were in a position to estimate the amount . required to keep body and soul together in 7,000,000 starving people. They asked for £500,000 a month, and intv r mated that this sum must shortly rise,to three times that amount if absolute starvation was to be prevented. Those who possessed any money were obliged to pay for even the miserable dole of half a loaf of brown bread and a pint of soup*per diem, which was all they could get, at best, and, of course, as their means become exhausted, so the unpaid for demands on the fund increase.

Mr Jones, in dealing with the money raised by the Harvest Festival, and Mr Evans's suggestion that : a portion of it should be reserved to pay the monthly quotas of the Dominion allocation, says "it was on this understanding that the bulk of the money was subscribed.'" I can only say that it is the first time I have heard that stated, and, on tlie contrary, I believe it was v the intent tion of a very large proportion of the subscribers and donors that their money should be sent to jelieve the immediate want and suffering.

The Timaru arid Ashburton districts, that supplied as much as, and perhaps more than, our festival, certainly did, because their representatives at the committee meeting referred to by Mr Jones, seconded and supported the resolution to send the full amount at once. Kaiapoi District has more recently expressed the same wish as regards the amount from their festival, and I feel, certain the Amuri did not wish their contribution to be bottled up here while the Belgians were starving, merely to make up the monthly quota. How can Mr Jones be sure of his assertion on this point, when it is a fact that the Harvest Festival scheme was well launched and much money collected before the Wellington Conference or the monthly quota were ever thought of. The Wellington Conference was held on March 12, and its decision was circulated on the 30th. I do not think anyone would blame our executive for their interpretation of clause 8, page 2, of the Minister's memorandum, which seemed to them that the amount sent forward would be available for the Government subsidy; hence the statement made to the meeting referred to by Mr Jones as "inaccurate." The Minister, on being applied to, decided otherwise, and it is unfortunate that the clause was so ambiguously worded. But I may say that, for all that, all the money sent by Canterbury so far has carried the Government subsidy of £ for £ to the fullest extent it is available any month. Mr Jones says "another meeting of representatives should have been convened to consider the altered position"—if he refers to representatives of local bodies, I, for my part, do not see that a committee of private citizens constituted as we were had any | standing to call such a meeting, but; if he means another meeting of the committee I can only say that such j representatives, by their exceedingly i sparse attendance at any previous meeting of the committee to which they were invited, including that to

ing" of the gun, but this is a difficulty .which is exceedingly easy to overcome. Prospects in New Zealand. Mr Birch explained that his three shells were made from scrap steel, such as can easily be obtained in the Dominion, and he is of the opinion that the workshops in New Zealand can turn out up to 10,000 shells per week when there has been proper organisation. The time fuses used to-day were of Imperial make, but Mr Birch is of the opinion that the fuses can easily be made in the Dominion, once the necessary machinery is obtained. The main part of the shell is quite easily made with the lathes now here. Mr Birch has also made 4.5 inch shells. He has had experience in munition works in Sheffield, and he 4inows what he is talking about.

which Mr Jones refers, did not manifest much desire to attend, and seemed quite content to leave matters in the hands of the executive. The latter felt, and still feel, that they were acting in accordance with the wishes of the general body of subscribers, and for the best, in the action they took. The committee have no information "about the needs of the Belgian people," other than what has appeared over and over again in the public Press of the Dominion, which they have endeavoured to circulate by means of leaflets, etc., as widely as possible, and if Mr Jones will call on or send his address to the secretary of our fund at the Art Gallery, he will be supplied with it. If the local bodies should express the least' desire to meet the executive, in order to discuss the question of the monthly quota, etc., I am sure I may say on their behalf that we will be only too pleased to meet them.—l am, etc., (Signed) Ed. G. LEVINGE, M.B. Christchurch, July 28. A COMPLAINT. To the Editor of THE SUN.

Sir, —I would like to draw the attention of the public to the unsatisfactory way the Public Works Department is dealing with the men applying for work at the Sunnyside Mental Receiving Home. Some of them have been out of work for months, and, when applying, are told to look up in a day or two. In this way the men are kept going for weeks with promises, and the excuse is made that there is a shortage of bricks or timber or else* windowf frames. These works have been in progress for nearly 12 months, and it is time some of the heads got a move-on. A private firm WQuld have finished months ago. The workers are blaming Massey and Co., when it is the fault of those who had theii* jolf under Ward and Co. A little speeding-up is wanted.—l am, etc., WORKER. July 26.