FOR RELIEF OF FAMINE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 625, 30 March 1929, Page 10

FOR RELIEF OF FAMINE

CITY COUNCIL VOTES £lO5 FOR CHINA WHERE DOES CHARITY END? How unexpectedly people can differ on humanitarian questions was emphasised at a meeting of the City Council on Thursday evening, when the Deputy-Mayor, Cr. A. J. Entrican, moved that 100 guineas be given to the Mayor’s fund for the relief of faminestricken China. /COUNCILLORS whose opinions are usually closely allied found theinselves in opposition. This was particularly noticeable among Labour members. After a debate in which no little real eloquence was heard, the mover got his motion through by 12 votes to nine. Cr. Entrican said so small a gift would be a gesture of amity that would go a long way toward the promotion of friendship between China and the Empire. "We are not asked to cio very much,” Cr. J. Kealy pleaded in seconding. •'The Chinese in Auckland have always been most generous in response to hospital and other appeals. In the cause of international goodwill this is the least we can do.” Cr. Ellen Melville: There is no guarantee that the money would reach the proper quarter. We would not know whom to send it to. We should ascertain the wishes of citizens. Cr. E. J. Phelanj I am not unmindful of the need of these people, but I say that charity begins at home. There are men in this city who are going about hungry. That £lO5 would carry a Government . subsidy, and £2lO would make many men happy. Assistance of China is the duty of the Government, which had a tendency to put this duty on to the shoulders of local bodies. Cr. J. A. C. Allum: My heart is with Cr. Entrican, but my head with Cr. Fhelan. What ant I going to say to a man who comes to my office for help if we send 100 guineas to China? Relief of the Chinese is a national duty, and if the Government calls upon us we should help. Cr. T. Bloodworth: I aril supporting the motion. It does not follow that if charity begins at home it should stop here. It has been, suggested that a public meeting should be called about a small matter of £IOO. Yet thousands are spent sometimes and no meeting is called. We of the British Empire are not altogether blameless for the circumstances existing in China. The' least we can do is to send a small sum for a very urgent cause. Cr. O. Mcßrine: I also support the motion. Every £1 spent may save -one life, and we should endeavour to save some. Cr. W. H. Murray: We have just' passed through a very severe winter. The next may be a little better. i have had men coming to me and many were discharged from council employment. I brought their condition before council, but there was no money. Salaries of our higher-paid officials were raised when they did not need the increase. While it is deplorable to read of the distress in China we should look after our own first. Cr. Melville then moved as an amendment: “That, .in the absence of Government’s action, a meeting.of citizens should be called to discuss the advisability of inaugurating a fund " “This amendment—l think, well, it is simply silly,” remarked Cr. Entrican in reply. “Cr. Melville would be the hrst to resent instructions from the Government to this council." This >ear Mew Zealand had exported produce to the value of £54,000,000, and here was council solemnly debating a mere 100 guineas, concluded the I>epu,ty-Mayor. Th-e amendment was rejected bv !•> votes to nine.