Help for needy

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 16

Help for needy

Sir,—The whirl and communal fervour of Telethon brings the focus to the victims of our uncaring society. How empty is the silence of aloneness and non-communication. We lack much as a community. New Zealand led the world as a. Welfare State in the 30s. Now it is the 80s and the problems we aim to help through Telethon could be greatly diminished by thoughtful government, creating jobs where there are none, providing more understanding, help and shelter, and channelling money and energy to things we need as simple human beings before we get lost or left behind in the race to nowhere. Other countries seem very impressed by our Telethons. How about all the governments of this world getting together and giving the money spent on arms or defence for one day or even one hour to help those people and races whose existence is determined by geographic placement and short-sighted priorities. It could be us. Buying up surplus food from those who have it for those who do not for starters. There is a mind-boggling clean-up needed on this planet which responsible people in positions of power should see and respond to before it is too late. — Yours, etc., ANNAtJFREED. June 27, 1983.