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AID FOR THE FRENCH

APPEAL FOR MONEY

APATHY OF GOVERNMENT

AND PEOPLE

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING

A meeling called by the. Mayor at the instance- of tho l ; rench Cerclo'iuid wellwishers was held last night. Including the Mayor, there were cloven persons presiimt. Tho purpose of the meeting was to make an appeal to raise funds as a national tribute, to the valour and sacrifice of the French nation.

The Mayor said that unfortunately the attendance at the meeting was not large. Ho said that while the people of '.New Zealand had willingly fouad money for tho relief of Belgium, they had not 60 readily responded to appeals tor the relief of tho people of the- occupied paria of France, whose plight had been just as desperate. But for the sturdy resistance olfered to the enemy by the'.French, Britain would not have been in such a good military position to-day. In spite j of their own sufferings, the French' peo ' pie had generosity to spare for the soldiers of .Hritain and her colonies. He hoped that Wellington would Lave responded to the nppeal for funds for the relief of the French sufferers by the war. The Mayor snid that he regretted that the proposal before teh meeting had not the support of the National Government. The fund had not even the approval of the Minister of Internal Affaire, who had .notified by telegram that ht could not approve the fund. The Acting Prime Minister, while apologising for inability of Ministers to attend, had written to suggest that the project should not go on. "Might I draw your attention to the fact," he wrote, "that we aro already doing a great deal for the French. We have established a, hospital for repatries in France, and 1 douibt very much tho wisdom of attempting to raise further funds just now/' He (the Mayor) did not think that we had discharged our obligations to the French people, and he was sorry that our Cabinet Jim* istere had not seen fit to approve this very proper proposal to raise funds. He regretted exceedingly that no Ministers woro present at tho meeting, and he re-.| gretted also that the attendance at the meeting wa9 so small. A Clique at Work. Captain Barclay addressed the meeting. He spoke of what had occurred in the last three yeans, during which time they hod beon waiting an opportunity to inaugurate a movement to collect funds to show appreciation of the French nation. On two occasions they had agreed to stand aside because other organisations, wished to make efforts. AVhen the timo for a third effort to raise funds seemed to 'be opportune he made it his business to, ascertain in what, direction moneys might be used for the aid of the French sufferers by tho war. Through tho courtesy of the officials of the French republic he had been able to get certain facts. But he wished to tell what had happened. It was hard to believe, but certain responsible people in this great city of Wellington had deliberately intrigued to make tho meeting and the appeal a failure. "These gentlomen" had so far forgotten themselves as to suggest that the promoters of the meeting should be bought off for a few hundred pounds! Tho Acting-Prime Minister, the actinghead of the National Government, had written a letter in reply to the Mayor's letter, which meant; in effect, "I have no sympathy with you, and you may be sure that the Minister of Intorual Affairs won't give you authority to raise the money." That is what the letter means. It is a threat. Captain Barclay said that tho "to. buy us off" was a contemptible low-minded idea. There was a clique going round exercising influence with the Ministry of the day, and the JJinistry in their Kindness were losing an opportunity of doing great good. It was absolutely contemptible. Uses For the Money. It was intended that funds should be raised and forwarded through the proper authorities to France. The idea was that the Governor-General and the members of the Ministry should lend patronago to the fund, and to the effort. His idea was that all local bodies, echools, and association-) of various kinds should be invited to help. Half of the sum to be raised was to be given to the French Bed Cross, and the other half to be divided among a number of French pntriotic funds. The objects, particularly those for the women and children who had suffered at the hands of the Hun, were admirable. But the appeal met with a sorry response. There was mischief abroad, and it was the work of a clique. He hoped that in spite of the opposition the meeting would form a committee to carry on the project to raise funds. Hard Words. • Mr. J. Hutclieson expressed the strongest disapproval of the action of the Government in denying obligation of gratitude and justico to the French people. Hβ used hard words about the members of the Government, and declared his intention of telling them "in their boards" what he thought of them and of saying freely what he thought of them, even "if they 'jug' me for it." Ever since the National Government was formed ho had tried his best to make himself blind to the defects of the Government, but in this matter he would not hesitate to express his opinions. The attitude of the Government was indefensible.

Mr. P. Witherby said that it could not be assumed that the meeting represented the people of Wellington. Hβ thought that in the meantime something should be done to overcome the legal objections that might bo raised tn the collection of money. To this end he would suggest that the meeting paas somo proper resolution.

Captain Barclay said (hat ho would not admit I hat it was the duty of the promoters of tho meeting to bring the j.eople of Wellington to the hall in so many wheelbarrows. He believed that a clique was opposed to the scheme.

A voice "What is the clique?" Captain Barclay: The feeling—that is a word of, wide, meaning—the feeling is that nothing should be done, to interfere with the success of Iho Red Cross. Something to be Done. Mr. H. I' , , von Haast said that it seemed to him tho two obstacles to be got over were (ho apaihy of the people and the apathy nf the Government. First of all he had understood that (lie meeting was convened at the request of the Cerele Francais. Where were the Ccrcle Francais? .

A voice: "Yes. Where are they?" Mr. von Haast said Unit, ho could not believe that thft appeal would mret with such, poor support. He would suggest that the meeting go behind the Government and send a cablegram to the Prime Minister.

Captain Barclay: They would not allow the cablegram to go out of the country. Mr. Seville spoke in strong terms regarding the letter of the Acting-Prime Minister.

Mr. von Haast said that to initiate the fund he would hand in a cheque from himself and Mrs. von Huast. The Mayor moved that those present should form themselves committee, to go on with tho raising of funds. The motion \v."i c ecomied by Mr. von Haast, and carried. Mr. Hulcheson then moved that the Mayor arrange for an interview villi the Acting-Prime Minister, at which they could ask him "in plain English what his letter means." This resolution was carried. Mr. Taincs Macintosh wns present lit the meeting in his capacity as French Consul, but took no active part in the proceedings.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180612.2.50

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 226, 12 June 1918, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,269

AID FOR THE FRENCH Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 226, 12 June 1918, Page 6

AID FOR THE FRENCH Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 226, 12 June 1918, Page 6

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