PUBLIC MEETING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1367, 27 February 1915, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

TO DISCUSS BELGIUM RELIEF.

MESSAGE TOTHE PREMIER

A public meeting convened by the Mayor was held in the Council Chambers last night, to discuss what action should be takeu to organise local relief in aid of the Belgians. There was a represen- 1 tative gathering present. The Mayor briefly outlined the object of the meeting. The Mayor referred to the recent cable message asking for relief on behalf of seven million Belgians who were threatened with starva-' tion. Foston had done well in the past towards the relief of those unfortunate people, but it was apparent that even more was required to be done. A systematic house-to-house canvass throughout the town and district for funds had been suggested. Another i suggestion was that persons should I contribute a definite sum weekly. A further suggestiou, and one that had been urged in other towns was that the Government should take the matter in hand and forward a sum weekly, the amount so decided- upon to be raised by j increasing the land and Income tax. This would bring into line a number of people who were not now giving in proportion to their means, while a large number of those who could ill afford to give were continually putting their hands in their pockets. The Mayor stated that he had received letters from persons who were willing to contribute a definite weekly sum to the relief fund. It was thought that if the Government were approached it may curtail voluntary giving. However, he hoped the meeting would do what it considered best for so ] deserving an object. Mr Wtn. Ross was 0! opinion that the Government should undertake the administration of the fund. It was questionable whether the Belgians were getting the food and money contributed for their relief. They were practically prisoners of war, and subject to German officialdom. They had no desire that Germany should benefit through Belgium’s misfortune. It was suggested that the fund for the relief of the Belgians should be administered through the British Government. Mr R. Moore endorsed the Mayor’s remarks. The contributors to the fund for the relief of 1 the Belgians should Ire laid on the j shoulders of those whose interests j iu this country were most con- j cerned should the enemy be successful. Iu the latter case the wage-earning class would not suffer to the same extent as the j professional and land owning classes. The appeal could not be met by voluntary contributions. Government could meet New Zealand's quota to the Belgian relief and war expenditure by increasing the land and income tax by 50 per cent., which would represent about one million per annum. He moved “that this i meeting urges the Government, in order to meet the expenses of the war, contributions to patriotic funds, relief to the Belgians, and to provide for contingencies, to introduce legislation increasing the Land and Income tax, by 50 per cent.”

Mr Horublow, In seconding, set forth reasons in support of the resolution, pointing out that neutral countries in such emergency provide special war taxes, as in the case of America at the present time. It would be impossible by means of voluntary contributions to obtain either a sufficient amount or a permanent source of revenue for the purpose s

required. Mr Kellow opposed the resolution, and urged that the Government should subsidise subscriptions ,£2 for ,£i. If the resolution was carried it would kill the incentive to voluntary giving. The Mayor pointed out that the channel for voluntary giving would not be closed.

Dr Maudl said the meeting should confine itself to the question of Belgian relief. The meeting was not concerned with the necessity for a war tax. He urged that the Government should contribute a sum of ,£25,000 per month. Mr Kellow moved an amendment, seconded by Mr Ross, that the Government be urged to make the relief of the Belgians a national affair, and to contribute at least ,£25,000 monthly for this purpose until such time as relief is not required. The amendment was lost, and the original motion was altered to read that in order to meet the relief of the Belgians a sum be provided for this purpose by the Government, and that legislation be passed to increase the land and income tax to that end. The motion was carried, and.it was decided to forward-same to the Premier, together with reasons for same.

It was decided to adjourn the meeting in the meantime; in order to see what action the Government intended to take.