FOR THE CHILDREN OF BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2835, 28 July 1916, Page 7

FOR THE CHILDREN OF BELGIUM

PRODUCE FAIR AT THE TOWN HAIL

OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR

SPLENDID FIGURES

The Town Hall has been the scene o. some wonderful doings since the war I broke out. There have been bazaars, sales of work, receptions to returneu warriors, dances for soldiers and sailors (British and foreign),; contingents from remote Pacifio Islands have sung rhythmically in their strange dialects, and Maoris have stamped fiery, hakas of terrific defiance, but of all the shows and functions that. have yet taken place the Produce Fair, which was opened yesterday by His Excellency the Governor, was specially notable because of tho heart interest' it embodied. .Whilst ou. the enemy's side humanity has been trampled .underfoot,, it has with our peoplo expanded, like a beautiful flower. Yes- 1 terday's effort was proof of that quality. •: It was a fine effort, made by the children of the Wellington Education District,-to help the poor, 'struggling, half-starved children of Belgium, and a 'success from the first.. How the Schools Have Helped. The Fair was opened at 3 p.m. by the Earl of Liverpool, who was supported on the platform by the Countess of Liverpool, .Capt. Williams, A.D.C., Mrs. W. F. Massey, Mrs. J. P. Luke, tho Hon. J. G. AY. Aitken (chairman of tho Wellington Education Board), Dr. W. J. Anderson (Director of Education), Messrs. J. Caughley (Assistant-Director), T. R. Fleming, F. H. Bakewell- (inspectors), and several members of the Executivo Committee. When the opening took placo the big hall was packed with people (mostly children), and owing to the incessant din, some of the speeches werescarcely heard. ■ ' . 'In introducing Lord Liverpool, Mr. Aitken conveyed apologies for tho unavoidable absence of the Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) and the Mayor (Mr. ,T. P. Luke), who was attending a deputation concerning the new railway station for Wellington. This effort by the Wellington schools, said Mr. Aitken was on behalf of the Belgian boys and girls, who hud ho homes of their own and required to be assisted. They had received the'request through the Minister of Education, and as soon as it was made, there was an immediate response, and the headmasters and teachers at onco got together and formulated a scheme, the result of which could bo seen, in the hall. He wished to say that ho had received a letter of apolo'?y for absence from tho Hon. C. J. Johnston (Consul-General for Belgium), who was unable-to be present owing to ill-health, but who wished to express his .gratitude to_t.no teachers and the children for'the sploiidid work they .'were doing on behalf of the Belgian children. So far, through the efforts' of tho children of the Wellington continued Mr. Aitken the sum of .82305 had been collected for the children Df Belgium, .61000-of which had already beeji remitted to London. (Applause.) He was also informed by Dr. Anderson that the sum of ,£SIOO had been remitted to London from tho children of New Zealand up till vesterday. (Applause.) His Excellency's Address. In formally opening the Fair, Lord Liverpool, who was received with applause, said that ho was sure that tho boys and girls of Wellington were doing their best to assist tho movement that had boon instituted by tho Lord Mayor of Loudon, as tho sum of money already remitted to the High Commissioner for that purpose showed. Only a week ago ho had forwarded a return lo\ His Majesty the King, showing tho amount of money that had been collected in New Zealand for the Belgians generally. He could not remember tho exact figures, but. ho believed it was something like a quarter of a million, and even that did not represent all, for a large amount of goods and. contributions had been made, other than through tho Department of Internal Affairs. He was extremely proud of tho way in which New Zealand' had assisted their distressed Allies since tho beginning of tho war. He congratulated heartily tho teachers who had organised tho affair, and the children on the keenness with which they had furthered the efforts of their teachers.' He knew they had two days' holiday, and disliked long speeches, so would conclude by.•formally declaring the Fair open. (Applause.) On tho call of Mr. Aitken, cheers were given for His Excellency and the Countess of Liverpool. Dr. Anderson (Director of Education) related that as soon as -the a.ppeal was received from London, through the Minister, it was communicated to the various Boards of Education, and from tho North Cape to.the Bluff it had been received with tremendous enthusiasm. Money continued to flow in from all parts. He hoped tho Fair would be as successful as. the object was deserving.. . What to See and Buy. Among the goods exhibited for sale that .one would expect to see, aro those most; unexpected. No one, for example, would expect to seo dainty lingerie made by the boys of tho Weraroa Boys' Farm; yet there is quite a variety of needlework from that institution. The Wellington Technical School had a most attractive display of cakes, sweets, jams, and conserves of all kinds, Horowhcnua had such goods also, and a beautiful lot of ferns and spring flowers. Tho Wellington City and Suburbs stall was a bright i'blaze of harmonious colour, and the goods covered almost everything eatable, from vegetables and root foods, to the daintiest home-made sweets and jams. Tho Wairarapa (North and South) and the Kutt Valley stalls were arranged with equal attractiveness. It was rather a mistake' to havo piled up sacks of chaff and oats in the middle of the iloor, and so monopoliso so much standing space. These should bo removed, this morning, and disposed of privately or by auction, as tho space for the public was. altogether too restricted as it was. Tho meat and poultry stall, under the management of Messrs. Wollaml and Farley, was a great display. There were mounds of rabbits and hares, sucking pigs, carcasses of pork and mutton, fowls, turkeys, geese, and ducks,' ham and bacon, in wonderful profusion. Over 800 dozen eggs were received for sale, and were being disposed of yesterday_ at Is. fld. per dozen (yesterday's wholesale price). In the middlo of the hall was a young Mt. Egmont of marrows and pumpkins; heaps of potatoes blocked the passages under tho stage, and sacks of swedes and mangolds filled tho wasto spaces. The Fair will bo open to-day, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., and this ovening from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ' The organisers of the gathering havo decided that this afternoon only adults will be admitted.