BELGIUM’S STARVING MILLIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1366, 25 February 1915, Page 3

BELGIUM’S STARVING MILLIONS.

IMMEDIATE RELIEF NECESSARY. MAYOR CONVENES PUBLIC MEETING. The Mayor has lost no time in convening a public meeting to discuss what can done locally in respect to assisting Belgium s starving millions. A public meeting will be held in the Council Chamber at 8 o’clock to morrow night'. The Mayor points out that one of the objects of the meeting is to make provision for regular contributions from the public to ensure continuous relief. The Mayor also asks those who finds it impossible to attend, but who are willing to show their practical sympathy with the effort, to notify him by letter what amount they are prepared to contribute weekly, such letters to be read at the meeting.

It is hoped that there will be a liberal response to this urgent appeal so that at least £2O per week could be forwarded. Let each citizen think the matter over and try to realise what Belgium has done for each and all of us throughout the Empire by holding the German hordes and bauckiug them at the psycological time. Think of the price she has been called upon to pay for her heroic struggle to maintain her neutrality and independence. The German invasion of her territory, resulted in the wholesale slaughter and maiming of her people, the destruction of her homes, the smashing ot her industries, the starvation of her women, old men and children. What has Belgium suffered for us ? We are pledged to help her in the hour of trial. Now is the time. We are living in ease and comfort. Shall it be said to our everlasting shame that we refused to succour her starving people ? Each one of us can afford tor a time to sacrifice some luxury in order to assist the brave little nation which throttled the attempt to Prussianise the British nation. Attend Friday night’s meeting.

So far the Government has not received any official intimation from the Belgian authorities in reference to the appeal for fundsThe fact remains that the Belgians are in sore straits, but it seems somewhat strange that nothing up to the present has come through Government official channels. Renewed efforts are, however, being made in every town throughout the Dominion to relieve the Belgians, and suggestions are made to the Government to move in the matter BERGIAN CON3UR ENDORSES APPEAR.Wellington, Feb. 23, The Belgian Consul has received a cable from Count Raking, thankfully endorsing the Belgian Commissioner’s appeal for continued assistance to the starving Belgians.