APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2608, 2 November 1915, Page 3

APPEAL

TO THE CHILDREN OF N.Z.

We have been requested by the hon. secretary of the Belgian Refugee Food .Fund, Mr. G. W. Sellar, Perry Street, Masterton, to publish the following appeal:— "The Belgian Refugee Food Fund, . "21 St. James's St., S.W. "To the Children of Great Britain and Ireland and the Dominion of New Zealand— "Dear Children, —Will you help üb? You all know, of course, the sad history of the people of Belgium; how the Germans .have taken their country, and how large numbers of the Belgian families havo been obliged to leave, somo coming to England, others going to Holland and France. In many cases only the mother and children have left, and the father aud big brothers have stayed: behind to fight with their brave Ring and help to drive the Germans out of the land. Many of ths children who have come to England are quite little ones. There are a large number of babies, dear small babies, and it is for them we are asking your help of the happy children' of these islands. "A short time ago we received a letter from, the master of a school at West Taiori, New Zealand, sending £1 10s. which the pupils of his school had collected for the Belgians, and they especially wanted it to he spent for the Belgian children. We had been troubled for some time thiuking of all the Belgian babies we knew in England, because in order for them to grow up strong men and women it was necessary that they should have plenty of milk to drink, good fresh milk, and we knew that, their parents had no money to spend on milk. So when the money came from the New Zealand children it seemed just the thing wo wanted. Not enough, of course, but we felt sure at once that the children of England, of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland would like to join their cousins of New Zealand in helping the babies of Belgium.

"Think what it means, you fortunate children, who have your homes, your good food, and so much happiness, think what it means to be driven out of your home, to be obliged to go away to a country where all are strangers; think how sad for little children—dear little babies —who ought to have comfortable homes and nice warm food, not to have enough milk, the only food they can take. I am sure that many of you would be glad to give some of your own big cupfuls. But that is not what wo want. What we ask you to do is to give us some of your pennies, give them for the Belgian babies instead of spending them on yourselves. If you can put away one penny every week, and bring them or send them to us at the beginning of each month. Ask your friends also to help us. Ask your teachers to collect in the schools and send us a nice sum to add to that which the little New Zealanders have sent us. so that to all the little Belgian babies, whose mothers come to us, we can give good supplies of fresh milk."

Donations may be sent to Mr. Sellar, or should it bo more convenient to anyone desiring to contribute we shall bo pleased to receive and forward on any bum sent to us. Donations to this fund should be clearly marked "Belgian Refugee Food Fund," to distinguish them from other Belgian Funds.