MEMORIAL FUND

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 69, 8 April 1937, Page 9

MEMORIAL FUND

Own Correspondent.)

Mr. Forbes's Appeal to People for Support WELFARE OF CHILDREN

(Bv Teleeraph

WELLINGTON, This Day. Ari appeal to people of New Zealand for support to the King George V Nation al Memorial Fund is made in the following termg by the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, M.P., former Prime Minister: "It is my pleasant duty to-niglit to reinforce the appeal made by the Prime Minister, the Et. Hon. Mr Savage, for donations from the citizens of New Zealand to the Ejng George the Eifth National MomoTial Fund which is to be used for the permanent establishment of children' s health camps. Both the fund and the object for which it is to be used have my earaest support, and I am sure you will agree with me that these camps will be a fitting memorial to a Sovereign whose especial interest was the welfare of his people, partieularly the .children. "The death of his late Majesty was received with deep sorrow in e^ery part of the Dominion; it was as if a close personal friend Had passed away, and jt behoves our generation to perpetuate his memory. "For over twenty-five years our late King had been both a monarch and a sincere and sympathetic friend of his peoples. Tliedr welfare was his constant consideration to the very end,and he set a standard of unselfish devotion to puhlic duties that .is a permanent pattern for all who take part in the public life and service of their country. "I had the privilege of an audience with his late Majesty when attending the Jubilee Celebrations in May, 1935, and he then expressed his appreciation of the kindness shown to him and to Queen Mary on the occasion of their visit to New Zealand in 1901, and also his appreciation of the kindness shown to his son, the Duke of Gloucester when he visited us in 1934. Puring the celebrations which marked the 25th year of his reign, I had opportunity of observing the xnanifestations of the feeiings of loyalty in wliich he was held by his subjects., The demonstrations which greeted the Royal processions will ever remain to me an indelible memory, and they were a testimony not only of our late King's qualities of statesmanship — great as they were and invaluable as they were throughout the troublesome times of his reign — but also a testitnoay to his deep and abidizg sympathy for those in adversity. He never spared hiunself to do everything in his power to assist thcse in difficulties and his words of comfort and wisdom must have heartened and jnspired inillions of his subjects. By his noble example he sVrengthened and deepened the loyalty of the people to th© Throne, and we, who cherished memorie8 of his affectionate leadership, ar© now called upon to provide for future generations a fitting memorial which will remind future generations of the love of the people of this age for King George th© Fifth, "The permanent health camps, which the Memorial Fund will provide, like the memorial playing fields which are being established by a similar fund in Great Britairi, will keep the name of our li.te King in fitting remembrance. No scheme could have been chosen more likely to please one who has always had the interests of the young people very elose at heart. You will recall that in hjs Christmas broadcast addresses to the Empire he asked to be looked upon as the head of a large family, and in the establisliment of health camps w© are about to provide for the more unfortunate members of that family. "Here is an opportunity; let us grasp it. I appeal to our people to make this memorial national in every sense of the word. Let us all contribut© according to our means. It does not matter how small our contributions may be; jt is the spirit behind them that counts, and I know that that spirit is prevalent throughout the Dominion. "I would like to make a special appeal to the women of New Zealand to get behind this movement for the improvement of the health of th© children of the Dominion. It is the natural follow on of the work. of the Plunket Society in saving the babjes, and the remarkable , success that has been achieved in that direction shows what our women can do, and I appeal to them to d© likewise with this national memorial and make it worthy of' a great and good King and a blessing to thousands and thousands of children a« th© years go on."