THE BELGIAN APPEAL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 49, 1 March 1915, Page 5

THE BELGIAN APPEAL

FAITH —HOPE —CHARITY !

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY. United Press Association. Sydney, March 1. The Belgian Commirsiou cables regrets at the failure of the negotiations for fixing accommodation between belligerents, whereby the Finance Commission’s work has not altered the fact that Belgium’s seven million must be fed. it does not propose to lay down the burden because there is no remedy actually in view. From various sources the Commission has delivered three million pounds, worth of food, and will have another £1,400,000 worth en route, vet will only have enough to last for a month. It should be borne in mind that money and food are not interchangeable in Belgium. At the piesent moment, the whole population is on a daily ration, and though the commission were in possession of millions of money they couldn’t buy one more atom of food than is given to the most destitute. The Commission will cease to send food the install? that the Germans fail to abide bj' their agreement not to requisition foodstuffs. Belgium’s destitute are the wards of the world, and there is no solution of the misery and hunger save by charity. Having failed to secure the Governments help, they appeal to the individual mercy of the people in every land.

FUNDS FROM TAXES.

Foxton, February 27

At a public meeting held last night a resolution was passed urging the Government, for the purpose of providing Dominion relief for Belgians, to in. troduce legislation increasing the land and income tax to establish an equitable fund for the purpose. The meeting decided to furnish the suggestion and reasons for such legislation to the Premier.

“There never was'such dire want in any land at any time in the history of the world, and it will require 5,000.000 dollars each month all the winter just for food.” This was the message that the Hon. W. H. Page (American Ambassador in London) sent the people in America with regard to Belgium. Upon reading this appeal in an American paper, an Auckland gentleman who signs himself “Waikawau,” handed £IOO. to the Acting-Consul for Belgium, Mr Robert Burns, with the hope that the people of his province would still. realise the extent of the privations which exist in Belgium.