BELGIAN RELIEF.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 284, 15 June 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

BELGIAN RELIEF.

A cable from London reported that the Xat'onal Cjmmitteo for tlio Relief o! Belgium had announced • tho suspension of its appals to the public . of tho Br.t'.sli Empire, as a consequent of the American Government having assumed ali tno financial responsibility for the work it the Relief Commission. Not long ago, with his unshakable belief and trust in a power superior to that wield--1 cd by King, Kaiser or President, Cardinal Merci.er ordered prayers to lie offered in all Belgian churches for the continuance ot the work of the American Commission tor tho relief of the war-destitute people over whom lie exercises a truly pastoral care. Then cam? tho entry of the United States into the war, and the withdrawal of the American workers in Belgian relief, headed by Mr H. C. Hoover. It seemed that this benevolence would come to an end. But this is not to lie. Tho greatest eleemosynary task the world has ever known is no longer left to private benevolence, but is now assumed by the I'nited States as a national responsibility. It is indeed a huge undertaking, for on Mr Hoover's showing theie are ten millions of people to fee.l and keep from starving, of whom 7.500,000 are Belgians, and of these 1,250,000 arc chldren, who naturally require more than the 50 per cent normal ration which is distributed to the destitute. Adults may be kept on a half normal d'et. but the effects tf half-starving growing children are likely to remain permanent, expressed in rickets, tuberculosis, or other diseases attributable to malnutrition. It is inleristing— and satisfactory, also— to learn from Mr Hoover that the British Kinp re ani France and the British rf overseas have furnished "more than I*o par cent °f a " the money spent by the C-ommi«ioni for the feeding of Belgium." As the " Kvening l'ost" says, i.ow tint the United States Government, through the good offices of Dutch and Spanish adniinstrators, has assi.me l i'-nan: ial responsibility for thu v. oik of the Relet Com mission, the stream of New Zealand benevolence may be diverted to other channels, and Serv a i; .suggested. Some work fit' tins kiwi li.'is already been done by .New Zealand; hut althougii the needs ot Belgium were and still arc very great, the sorrow.- of Servu are no Less poignant. Our contemporary is. «u be. iieve. will within the mark when it sny< ''(ho iiorrors and liostiality of the Germans perpetrated o;i the beigians were at least equalled, if not exceeded by tho.se of tile Austri its on the Soros. We have heard rather less about them, but they will be scan :ii all t!ieir black- ; ness a iter the war —an in■. 1. ■ 111 >l. •, smisi r !>! it i putt the e ciiii boon of ;i people who at one tini;* had some right to bring (1 -(.l'llifd as the nai.-t charming an ! polite cii ;ili the people oi Kuropi—wiiiih n .body ever aceii-ed t!.e Gerii.aiis i,f being. Seliool ehildien ;n Ne.v Z'-iiliiid ha\e done nobly in their way I r th pceplo they persi.-ted in calling tie Heliums.' Now they can be cdu. < ate.! up to thinking, working and ailing fir til • Servian-, who are in dre i.red of such syni:.-atlii tv he p." i