SAVE THE CHILDREN.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 11

SAVE THE CHILDREN.

DISTRESS IN NEAR EAST. FURTHER FUNDS NEEDED. Mr 11. W. H. Sams, a New Zealander, is the administrator of the "Save the Children Fund" in Macedonia. Recent telegrams from Mr Sams to London describe the tragic condition of the refugees in his distinct and makes urgent appeals for help in view of the approach of winter. A glimpse of the work being done in Greece is vividly emphasised by Mr Frank Yeigh, a Canadian, who recently described a clothing distribution at Sorovitch. in a remote part of Macedonia: "The news spread over night with mysterious speed through the refugee settlements, and by daylight the first' streams appeared—mostly on foot. The little town was crow-ded as on a market day, and one had an opportunity of again seeing refugees in the mass. Once more it a ragged army, even worse—if that were possible—than Salonika, and the pleas for help that we heard further emphasised the desolating tragedy. The story of Salonika is repeated in Sorovitch, with even greater emphasis, for these refugees, scattered among the bleak and barelooking hills of Macedonia, dwell in even more wretched hovels and are more apt to be forgotten than the dwellers in or near a city. An epic could be written of the dry ration distribution to these remote villages by the S.C.F; staff on the spot. 'A distribution has never failed,' and when the transportation over sometimes nearly impassable roads and under severe weather conditions is taken into account, it is realised that these selfeffacing workers are performing miracles, and thereby saving scores of lives and bringing a ray of hope to hundreds of others. I left this strange little town in the heart of the hills impressed anew with the worth while service of the fund among the neediest of human kind. n During the last few days Mr F. A. de la Mare, the hon. treasurer of the fund in Hamilton, has received a cable from London urging a continuance of the effort. Nearly £2O will be forwarded in a few days, and it is hoped that a drive for clothes and blankets will soon be organised. An appeal was recently made in Great Britain, and resulted in many instances of devotion and self-denial. One instance is particularly touching. An old Scottish couple, aged 84 and 82 respectively, sent ss, and accompanying the donation the following verse, in neat, cramped, shaky handwriting : "Saved from our weekly O.A.P. We gladly send this mite to thee. By living on the plain 'Scotch fare,' We find we have this crown to spare. It gives our old hearts inward joy To feed some starving girl or boy."