Women Will Help In U.N. Appeal For Children

Lake County Mail, Issue 45, 14 April 1948, Page 4

Women Will Help In U.N. Appeal For Children

“ This- is the first time the United Nations have asked us ordinary people of the world to make a positive contribution to the future welfare of the world as a whole,” Mrs E. M. Knox Gilmer, who has been appointed to represent women’s interests on the New Zealand headquarters of the United Nations Appeal for Children, has stated.

“ When one remembers that the millions of children Avho are now suffering hunger and cold and illness will grow up to be the men and women of tomorrow —the people with whom our own children will live either in peace or in an atmosphere of distrust, hatred and even war, according to how we treat them now —one realises the great importance of this appeal,” said Mrs Gilmer. “It is much more than a matter of humanity, and of giving our pity and charity to children who have never had a decent chance. It is also a matter of doing something at once to l safeguard the future peace of the world.” She expressed her confidence that the women of New Zealand would eagerly grasp the opportunity to do something positive for the good of the world which the appeal, to take place in May, will give.

Through it, New Zealand will shave in a world-wide drive to raise funds for food, clothing and medical care for millions of desperate children in Europe and the East. Public meetings have been held to set up campaign committees in each district.

The objective of the appeal, said Mrs Gilmer, was the contribution by everybody of the equivalent of one day’s effort. That meant, in simple terms, that the wage or salary earner would be asked to give a day’s pay; the farmer and the owner of a factory or business to give a day’s profit.

But it is realised that some people might not be able to afford as much, and that others would want to give more. In effect, therefore, the appeal would be to every person to give as much as he or she could. Every penny would be important —whether it was from a New Zealand child giving up a little pocket money, from a woman giving a pot of jam to be sold at a bazaar, or from a man dropping a bit of change into a street collection box. “ Very soon,” said Mrs Knox Gilmer, “ there will be detailed announcements about the way in which women can help —whether in their homes, helping at local functions, or serving on the committee —I feel sure that their response will be magnificent.