FOR THE FRENCH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 228, 14 June 1918, Page 3

FOR THE FRENCH

APPLICATION TO COLLECT FORWARDED. As chairman of the committee formed for raising funds to aid the gallant French in their sore hour of trial, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) has forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the ,Hou. ti. W. Unwell) a formnl application for a permjt to collect funds, onehalf of which will bn devoted >to the French Bed Cross Society and the other half to such urgent patriotic needs as tlio Kriwh Government may determine.

Referring to the proposition, ifr. J. P. Firth, principal 'of the Wellington College, has written to the Mayor as follows:—

"Dear Sir,—lt is extremely difficult for me to get away at night time or I should certainly huve attended your mooting called last night to take steps in aid of the French sufferers. ' K?J I known what was going to happen 1 should certainly have been there. As I read the report in the morning paper I was hot with indignation. Herewith are ' two cheques for the fund you are wising. One is from the Wellington College Patriotic Fund, the other from Mr. and Mm. J. P. firth."

Captain Barclay, president of the Cnrcle Francais, states thnt ho is receiving many assurances of sympathy and suppart in Wellingtou, and hns every hope that the ell'ort will prove such a substantial one that it will redound to the credit of New Zealand, and will be a fine tribute to the valour of our great Ally.

In Auckland the effort is being made under the auspices of the French Society, and him the imprimatur of the French Consul.

At a meeting of the Cerolu Francais held last night, Captain BnrHay presiding, the following resolution was iinaiynioiisl.v pdoptedi;—"Thai, in the opinion of this menting, Ihe nclion of the Goyornjnent in opposing a public subscription in aid of the French .s\ifE/*rers by the, war, is as unjustifiable ar- it is uncalled for, and we trust the Government will at once withdraw itj opposition amV support the movement." F.aoh (iuo present asked to be added to the permanent -'omuiitteo already formed under the presidency of the Mayor.