The Belgian Fund.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 23 April 1915, Page 2

The Belgian Fund.

It is generally recognised throughout New Zealand, that the Fund which now has the first call on the sympathies and purses of the people is the Belgian Fund. Every Britisher owes a deep debt of gratitude to the brave little country which, for a tew critical weeks stood between our Empire and a terrible disaster, for had the Germans not been blocked in Belgium, it is certain they would have overrun France and the work of defeating Germany would have been strained to the utmost. In a sense, we owe our present state of security to the wonderful stand made by the Belgians, and they, having lost all in their plucky attempt to stem the tide of invasion, should receive from us, the people whom they saved, every assistance we can possibly render. It is not sufficient to give of our plenty, but if need be, we should deny ojirselves to the utmost, that they may not suffer. All over New Zealand, subscription lists have been opened, and people are giving freely, but. although certain more or less small efforts have been made in Huntly, the public as a whole has not yet put its hand in its pocket to help this most worthy object. The chief reason for this is that there is no one in Huntly appointed to receive funds and people who have only small amounls to give, cannot send it to Auckland or any other centre. We believe that if a list were opened in Huntly, a goodly sum would be raised, and people would give freely and continuously, making a small weekly call on themselves, which would in the long run, amount to a goodly sum.

It has been decided by a Conference of Patriotic Association and St. John’s Ambulance Association that the Government be recommended, to make a definite grant of £SOOO per month towards the relief of the Belgians and also to subsidise at £ for £ any amount exceeding £SOOO per month raised in New Zealand for the same object.

It- has been decided to grant the subsidy above, and to ask the Provincial Districts to contribute to the £SOOO per month on a population basis, Auckland is asked to provide £1325 per month.

We would lit** to see Huntly providng its share of this amount, and we have no doubt the people would do their share if the opportunity were given them. In all other places, the local authority has taken up the work of collecting funds, and we have no doubt that, if anyone has donations to offer, the Town Board would be only too glad to receive and forward the same on.