SERBIAN RELIEF FUND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 25, 5 January 1916, Page 6

SERBIAN RELIEF FUND.

[in The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir,—For the information of the public 1 once again write to say that 1 very few in the Stratford district have subscribed so that money may bo remitted to enable food and clothing to be purchased for tlie starving Serbian women and children. The Christmas and New Year holidays ate pow over, and I wish people would read the newspapers, and think for themselves what it must he like to be driven from home by a barbarous enemy—no food, no shelter from the cold winter weather —for all the refugees are suffering alike. Women and children and old men dying on their way, and if they are fortunate enough to reach a place of safety then the question arises, whore can they get food? The Americans have been the first (so far as I know) to send relief, and even in New Zealand some districts have remitted money. But of ourselves? What has the Stratford district done? A few people have done their best, and on 24th December £65, and again on 30th December £SO was remitted, and about £25 has since been paid to the Belgian Committee. I know that the high cost of living is now pressing heavily on perhaps more than half our population, also that subscriptions to the Belgians and various patriotic funds I have been many and large, but there must be many who are prospering and can spare a little for the starving Serbians. To these last I appeal so that the proposed remittance about the 15th of this month may be a large one. At the public meeting held at Stratford on 23rd December, it was moved, and carried unanimously: “That the money subscribed at the meeting, or in hand, be sent to the head office of the Salvation Army, London, for immediate Serbian relief.” None of those at the meeting, nor do 1 myself, belong to the Salvation Army, but it was considered that as the Salvation Army already had an officer in Serbia distributing relief it was best and quickest to remit to them, so as to save the lives of the starving people. Yesterday, in looking over the December, 1913, Monthly Review of the work of the Salvation Army, on page 546, it is stated that Colonel Govaars is in Serbia organising relief work among the war-stricken population, and that his report is endorsed by M. Pachitch, the Prime Minister. I know of no New Zealand central governing organisation'- for money for the Serbians, and failing such I honestly bedieve it is quickest and best to remit • through the Salvation Army. All Skoglund, at the Borough offices ■will, as secretary for the Serbian Relief Fund, receive subscriptions, which, 1 hope, will be many, so that a subtantial remittance may be-sent about the 15th of this month, January, 1916.—1 am, qtc. GEO. N. CURTIS, Chairman Belgian and Serbian Relief Committee. Stratford, January 4, 1916.