SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND.

Waipukurau Press, Volume 11, Issue 39, 12 August 1920, Page 1

SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND.

The Church Army was started in Eng land, by Rev. Wilson Carlile, in 1875, to help the poor and friendless, both in. body and soul, the work being commune cd with a Rescue Home. Church Army work publicly commenced'in New Zealand on Ash Wednesday, 1910, aso a self-denial effort for the benefit of Loudon poor. Since then .£Bll 10s 3d has been subscribed for the purpose of helping the Church Army at Home, to feed the many thousands in their Labour and Rest Homes; £7OO of this money being earmarked for Christman dinners for children. But a more pressing need is brought under our notice since the war, consequently a ‘‘Save the Children Fund” has been commenced in England. In June, IJI9, it as as officially announced chat the Treasury would provide £ for £ raised by charitable organisations in the L nited Kingdom for the relief of distress in Europe. Two months ago £970,000 was paid into the Treasury by the Mansion House Fund, Church Army and others; therefore, double that amount was available to relieve the distress. The Church Army sent me the particulars in a pamphlet. All money subscribed in A'ew Zealand and forwarded to Headquarters will receive the subsidy as if raised in the United Kingdom. Lord Curzon says: “It is difficult for the suffering that still exists. The effects are seen in a scale of mortality that can hardly be measured.” The Lord Mayor of London, speaking of Asia Minor and America, said:. “Words fail to describe, or even faintly outline, the acute misery of the children. The funds at our disposal have been spent to the last shilling. Cl|ld life in these regions is a life of starvation, of neglect and hopeless, drawn out agony. Will you help to afford these thousands of little ones something of food and covering for their poor emaciated bodies, something of loving care?’ “Save the Children Fund” tells your readers that the war has left Serbia .vitli 50,000 fatherless children, and of these 150,000 arc quite destitute. . From Budapest, Hungary, Mr Hoover says. “There is no milk for children. Rickets it an almost universal disease, and paper clothing and paper bandages have to be used. There is no vaseline or ointments to treat bedsdres and other ills caused by the malnutrition of babies. ’ ’ Madame Milyuka says “that in some districts in Russia the mortality amung children reaches 95 per cent. Milk cannot be obtained, and no soap to wash children’s clothes..” Mr Hoover wrote to The Times, saying there were a million undernourished children in Poland. Lady Muriel I‘aget, whose mission has accomplished so much good work in Czeeho-Slavakia, told a Times representative that in one district of 60,000 people there was only one doctor. Children du not attend school, because they have no clothes, and are too hungry to learn. Grass is used as a vegetable. Bread is made of straw, bran and wood. Mr Hoover also said: “I commend to te efforts of all English-speaking people the starving young children. There arc more than 31 millions in Europe who will die if not provided with milkThis will have to be done by private charities. ’ ’ AVe are living in the favoured country of New Zealand, and escaped the ravages of war. and although we have many obligations, yet, could deny ourselves of luxuries to send the money so saved to help those who cannot help themselves in devestated Europe. I shall be glad to receive contributions, or the result of any act of sclfdcnial for the sake of others —however small the sum may be. The money will be cabled monthly to Headquarters, so pressing is the need. Yours sincerely, F. W. WIIIBI.EV, Hon. Secretary. Church Army in N.Z. The Vicarage, Ormondville