FOR BELGIAN CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2806, 26 June 1916, Page 3

FOR BELGIAN CHILDREN

LOCAL- SCHEME

TO RAISE RELIEF FUNDS

An appeal has been received by the Wellington Board of Education, through tho (Minister of Education, from the Lord .Mayor of London, for a united effort of tho children of the Overseas Dominions 'to help- alleviate • the sufferings of thou•/•"vlB'of starving Belgian children. With * view to the ohildreii of the Wellington Education District' taking'some unit- ""' aotion in response to this appeal, a rge and enthusiastic meeting of the staffs of the Wellington city and suburban sohools was held in the board room on _ Friday. A scheme, the outlines of which are "given, was unanimously adopted. A general executive committee (with power to add), was sot up, also sub-com-inittees dealing with finance, correspondence and advertising, entertainments, ■receipt and dispatch of goods, erection and ■decoration of stalls. The Hon. J. Q. W. Aitken, chairman of the board, was present, and stated that the Bchenie had his hearty approval, and that ho felt sure if the matter were taken, up ./with tho usual enthusiasm which children, teachers, and committees have always shown in patriotic work it would be a pronounced financial success. -

Briefly the scheme is' as stated in a circular to head teachers and chairmen of school committees:— " ; " (a) On July 10 (a date fixed by the Lord Mayor of London in- his appeal) collection to be made' in all schools under following conditions:—l. Tho offering of funds to be confined to' the children and staffs and such of their friends as desire to contribute, through medium of the schools, to the relief of the starving Belgian children. 2. All street and other outside methods of collection to bo totally refrained from. . 8. Tho amounts thus collected in the several schools to bo forwarded to tho secretary of tho board (hon. treasurer General • Executive Committee). (b) A country schools produce salo to be held in the Wellington Town Hall on tho afternoons and evenings of Thursday and Friday, July- 27 and 28. . It is on. this, point- that an especial appeal is now made to country schools— thoir children, staffs, «ind committees. It was felt by the.teachers at the meeting that some effort which would in a striking fashion signify the unity of 'our.! whole educational L*strict was very de-' sSrable. It is suggested that such, an effort tako 'the form of a, great sale of produce from country districts. Five stalls—one each for Wellington City, Hutt Valley, Horowhenua Ward, North vVairarapa, and South Wairarapa—have lieon arranged for, and the offerings from each of tho districts named will be sold an their respective stalls.; A strong executive committee has been set up, and it is this committee which now appeals to tho country schools for their co-opera-tion. All produce for this sale will be carried from the nearest railway station to Wellington free of all charges.. Special labels will be supplied. The Town Hall will bo given free for the purpose of the sale, it is believed that the actual, working expenses of the sale will; bo confined to a little necessary printing. The sale will be conducted on business lines'.. Fair value will : be given for money received, and no goods will be sacrificed..'

It was felt,by all present at Friday's meeting that perhaps teachers and committees in the country ; districts might prefer to arrange such sales in more centres than Wellington. While not opposed' to such a suggestion, it was felt that Wellington offers such an excellent market for country'produce', as to ; niake~ it highly desirable from a financial point of view to centralise the efforts of the': •vhole district m one great centre. An early expression of opinion" on this point will be highly valued by the committee. "' "': As it is essential to' the success of the.

proposed scheme that the executive committee, should very soon know whether tho suggested scheme finds favour in country districts, an early reply is asked. First: An opinion of the proposal. Secondly : If. approved, as to tho extent, in general terms, to which the school and district is prepared to support it. The committeo believe a united action such as a salo of produce entails can be made'a great financial success. The City children and teachers are willing to work loyally in Wellington. The committee confidently appeal to colleagues in the country—pupils, staffs, and committees— to join in this united scheme, and make the effort one worthy of, and in full accord with, the traditions of the "Wellington Education District. . , Eeples mav be sent care of Secretary, Education Board, Wellington. Tho suggested list of gifts is:—Frnit, vegetables, bacon, ham, .butter, eggs, cheese, game, preserves, pickles, poultry, jam, hares, rabbits, fish, honey, meat, home-made bread, etc.