BELGIAN RELIEF FUND

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 March 1915, Page 2

BELGIAN RELIEF FUND

A systematic, commendable effort is being made to centralise the various relief funds subscribed in aid of the .Belgians and other needy people whose indigence is attributable to the internecine warfare now being waged in Europe. The effort is specially desirable for many reasons. One is that it will- help to show specifically the aggregate benevolence of eacli town and district. Levin, to give one instance, has been sending its contributions through separate channel's, and the aggregate of the gifts is nob available to enquirers. A circular letter touching on the proposal just received by Mr K. G. Roe. local secretary of the Eund for Relief of the poor of Groat Britain, Ireland and Belgium, sets out the scheme for amalgamation. It runs:—

"Wellington, 17th March, 1915. Dear Sir, —As the result of a conference held on Friday at which His Excellency the Governor presided, an effort will be made to concentrate the whole of the Belgian Relief Fund through one channel, in order that a regular :;'intributiou can be made from the Dominion of £15,000 per month. The Government probably will make a grant of £5000 per month, and will subsidise voluntary contributions £1 for £1 up to £5000 per month. The voluntary contributions will be asked for from the several organisations throughout the Dominion on a population basis. In order to obtain the benefit of the Governinient subsidy, it is desirable that contributions from your district should be properly directed. The exact procedure has not yet been arranged, but if you continue to make your contributions to me as heretofore. ] shall he pleased to .see that tbny receive the Government subsidy, and that the remittances are s<'tit forward on the population basis as suggested. I am instructed to thank yon and others in your district "'ho have been working in the interests of the fund

for tlieir generous assistance' in tJin past, and T trust that your efforts will be- continued in order to secure regular contributions from the Dominion to the Belgian people who are suffering as a result of the war.- Yours faithfully. R. W. Shallcrass. General Secretary."