New Zealand.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 292, 8 December 1914, Page 3

New Zealand.

CARDIFF WAR FUND. (Contributed.) At the last meeting of the Cardiff War Fund Committee it was decided to hold a systematic canvas of the district with the idea of raising a special Xmas gilt towards the Belgian relief fund, and in view of that canvas, it might be of interest both to Cardiff people and your general readers to have a short summary of what has already been done in Cardiff. The Dairy Factory Co. started by giving a donation of £IOO, which went to the Stratford Patriotic Fund, the School Committee following with the proceeds of a dance £lO, 2s (id, included in which were donations from Mr Cameron £5 and Mr A. J. Smith £1 to the same fund.' Then it was thought that we ought to have some say in the distribution of funds raised by ourselves, and a War Fund Committee was formed; since the formation of which the following has been accomplished:—First month: School dance £2 Os 6d, Cardiff Sports Club £l, W. Richards £lO, J. Rogers (monthly donation) £l, Cardiff children’s conceit in aid of prize funds and given by them to Belgian £6 10s Gd; total £2O 11s. Second Month: G. A. Merchant (2 monthly donations of £1) £2, H. Rogers (2 monthly donations of 10s) £l, Anonymous £1 Is, A. Wilcox £l, Crossley hoys and girls (5 weeks sub. at 3d per week for 5) 6s 3d, A Friend £5, W. Richards £2, I. Richards £l, J. Richards, Senr. 10s, D. Cameron £5, S. Rothwell (monthly sub.) ss, A. Johnson (monthly sub.) ss, C. Barker (monthly) ss, I. Watkins (monthly) 2s Gd, M. Wallace 2s Gd, A. J. Smith £l, J. Stewart £l, W. Mason £l, C. Coldwell £1; total £23 17s 3d. Third Month: F. Prehhle £l, J. Rogers (2 months at £l, £2, G. Marchant (monthly) £l, C. Merchant £5 Cardiff Dairy Co. $ per cent, butterfat £l3 15s, J. T. Belcher £l, A. Belcher 10s, W. Belcher 10s, S. Rothwell (monthly) ss, A. Johnson ss, O. Barker ss, I. Watkins (monthly) 2s Gd, H. Rogers (monthly) 10s, I l ’. Crossley (2 months at 10s) £l, Crossley boys and girls (4 weeks) ss, J. Stewart £1; total £2B 7s Gd.

This makes a total of £72 los 9d, all of which has been forwarded to the Belgian Consul in Wellington for the relief of the Belgians. To the committee’s way of thinking it is the fund that should have* first claim on everyone’s sympathies, ‘even if they were suffering their present hardships in their own cause, hut when it is in our cause, how much more should we endeavor to give every penny we can to help relieve their awful distress. There is no charity about it. It is their right to claim and our hounden duty to give. By the foregoing lists, it will be observed that several are giving a monthly donation which is the best means of contributing, and ensures a steady iiTCPWid, Slid the committee would be glad to receive the names of anyone who is willing to do likewise. With regard to this coming canvas, several ladies have kindly consented to make a house to house call, and it will probably take place on or before 18th of December. Promises will bo counted as cash, so that the committee can wire away the money at once to the Belgian Consul, to be cabled by him in time for Christmas. Wo shall have our three to six meals a day, but for pity and duty’s sake remember the hundreds of thousands of homeless, starving Belgians who are to-day in that state in your behalf and pay, pay, pay, and then sit down to yotir Christmas dinner with the feeling that you have been instrumental in providing for at least one person’s comfort on that day of days. Then stroll out on to the verandah, look around at your farm and cattle, picture to yourself the splendidly brave Belgian with his farm in ruins, and then kick yourself for not thinking about it sooner and doing a bit more.