"SAVE THE CHILDREN" FIND

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 48, 20 November 1920, Page 12

"SAVE THE CHILDREN" FIND

(To tho Editor.) Sir,—An editorial noiie in your issue of to-day contains tho following comments in regard to tho campaign for the "Save the Children" Fund; —" Those who aim lit raising another great fund for European relief would do well to assure themselves'of the intensity of the need, the absence of means of • self-help, and tho natureof the agencies through \v>.ich the actual expenditure oil the spot will bo made." I n'tt&ch an articlo which explains the administration of the fnnd. and the British Government's attitude in regard to it. Men and women of all classes in Great Britain liftvo had opportunities— mainly by personal visits—to ascertain the needs of the starving children of countries in mid-Europe—including territory of Great Britains allies during the war—and the result of careful investigation is that people of all elassc« in Great Britain hava subscribed generously to the "Save tho Children" Fund. . If Briiflsh people, who are comparatively near to tho countries which require nid l for the children, aro satisfied that tlie need is urgent, surely tho people of New Zenland can accept tho assurances of their kin in the Mother Country. I have no doubt that a perusal of tho evidence will satisfy you, Sir, and your readers, that this appeal is one w'iich doserves the whole-souled, open-heartod support of all classes here.—l am, eto., R. HTIiL, . Secretory. Tho enclosure referred to is af= follows i "People who contribute to the 'Save the Children' Fund' (to help the starvhifc and diseased children of Poland, Czecho. Slovakia. .Tugo-Klavin, Serbia, . Montenegro, Galicia, Hungary Austria.,- and other districts of .Mid-Europe,) can have full confidence thail the greatest possible care lis taken 'to assuro the best use of the money. "In reply to a question in t.he British House of Commons on Moy 17, 1920, the followine official statement was made-. 'Tho Official Connnii'teo for Relief in Europe is composed of the Central Trustee? of Controlled War Charity, appoint, pd' by the Chnrity of Commissioners, to which members liro added by the treasury. The Treasury deals with applications for pound-for-pound grants only through isie official, committee for relief. whose duty it is to examine applications made through them, and to recommend to the Treasury to what societies and for what amounts granils should be made. Societies wishing to obtain pound-for-pound grants should send applications to the secretary of the Official Committee for Belief in Europe. Applications. unless good reasons are elated to the oontrary, are sent in monthly, and before being considered by the committee are submitted for inspection and report to the committers auditors,' • "The 'Save the Children' Fund is one which has the emphatic approval of the British ,Treasury, which will give a pouml-for-T>ound subsidy up to a certain point. The administration of this fund is in iihe hands of the British Bed Cross, in 00-opcration with the Society of Friends. "Bishop G. H. Frodsham, well known for his missionary work in Australia, and as one of the founders of the Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine, says lie made inquiries as to tho form of relief a.nd method of administration of the 'Rave the Children' Fund, and flnds-that it is done under British control, and with tho least possible expense. Ho knew enough about mid-Europe to tie anxious nbout these poiiuls, and' he would not.willingly support any method of administration he thought to bo wasteful. British control was a necessity for the time being. He had official information that the greatest care was being -exercised not onlv as to the methods of distribution, but to ensure economy of purchase and' of transport. With the rarest possible exceptions, the distributing agents of the funds wore British subjects.- Belief wns given in various forms—lhe distribution of cloiihing, the provision for sending children into the countries* which were happily not affected by famine conditions."