BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1948 U.N. APPEAL FOR CHILDREN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 40, 23 April 1948, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1948 U.N. APPEAL FOR CHILDREN

Last week’s public meeting called by the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr R. T. Morpeth, to further arrangements for the Whakatane Borough effort towards the United Nations Appeal for Children attracted nine people, including a newspaper representative and the chairman and secretary.

It is to be hoped that is not any indication of the degree of public interest here. No-one would want to believe that citizens of any civilised community could be so apathetic to such a cause'. Yet the meeting was advertised, publicly. Notices were sent to all the bodies which the organisers considered should find the appeal right in line with their aims.

Yet, in a Borough with a-popu-lation of approximately 3,000, only nine thought it worth their while to turn out and help plan the campaign to save the world’s starving children. Where were the parents of this town’s healthy youngsters? If they were taken from their snug homes tomorrow, never to return, would they derive any comfort from the thought that their children would waste away and die in a world that cared for nothing’but the selfish comforts of selfish individuals? Where were the people who fill the Church pews every Sunday and sing praises to the Friend of little children?

Do they find it easier to follow a printed ritual once a week than to follow the, footsteps of their Master all the week? Maybe they will help, when it comes to the point of giving. This town has a record for substantial contributions to such appeals. But all too often the work is left to a willing few. To give money, to one who has plenty, is easy. To give time, energy and thought .to a cause because it is worthwhile, to work for an object worthy of attainment, takes the real enthusiasm that springs from a heart warm with 1 its readiness to serve. Often gifts from the pocket entail no sacrifice; often they are accompanied by no real will to give. Gifts from the heart carry with them a constructive goodwill thought that counts in the long run far more than cold cash. Those children need our financial help desperately. They need our moral backing more desperately. Are we to give from our hearts, or merely from our pockets?