POOR IN BRITAIN AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 124, 19 October 1914, Page 7

POOR IN BRITAIN AND BELGIUM.

NATIONAL RELIEF FUND. 'MEETING AT TOWN HALL. A public meeting jiras held at the Town Ha 1 on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of taking steps to support the movement for assisting the Relief Fund for the poor in Britain and Belgium. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. E. Wilson) presided.

In opening the proceedings, His Worship said that the meeting had been called by direction of the Citizens' Patriotic Fund Committee, at the instance of tho organisers of The Poor in ISritain jand Ireland and the Belgium Relief Fund. As to the Patriotic Fund, the committee considered that the fund might now well be closed, so far, at least, as active ■canvass for contributions was conerned. !Referring to the. object of the meeting, jhe said that the question to decide was i whether a committee should be set up I to obtain contributions of money, stock, •and produce in the northern portion of ITaranaki for the British and Belgian I 'Relief Fund. The movement was to be 'a Taranaki one, and, already meetings had been held at Hawera and Stratford to canvass the southern and central portions of the province. He considered jthat the best results would be obtained if the project were heartily taken up by country residents, and he hoped that the committee would be largely composed of fanners. It was proposed to send for the assistance of tbo3e in need in England and Europe a cargo of New Zealand produce, and that proposal j should appeal to the producers of the Dominion; but it was not the farmers alone that were being asked to contribute, it being incumbent on every in- ' dividual in .\'ew Zealand to help as far 'as possible. Alluding to the sufferings lof the Belgians in having their country I wasted, and being treated with incredible I barbarity, His Worship pointed out that iit was not enough that we should applaud their courage and sympathise with i them in their distress. There was, and j would be for a long time. the. greatest hardship and poverty in their country, jand the cail upon us to help them must 'not be disregarded. In Great Britain [and Ireland also there was need of help, for the war would cause a very great deal of distress and extra hardship .among the people, which the people of New Zealand must do their utmost to 'relieve, for England was straining every nerve to overthrow our enemies, so that any movement for the relief of her people must be of the greatest use to her. England was fighting for her freedom and ours, and though there was every confidence in her ultimate'success, it was the duty of the Dominions to help in every way to ensure victory. The people of Taranaki had already given generously, and though they were not a j wealthy community, yet they were prosjpcrous; hence he confidently appealed for a generous response in money, stock, lor produce. In conclusion, he called jupon Mr Shallcross, general secretary of I the fund, to address the meeting. | Mr R. W. Shallcross, who was received iwith hearty applause, endorsed all that jthe Mayor had said as to the urgent need for help to the poor in Britain n«e} England consequent on the distress arising out of the war. and the large num[ber of refugees sheltering in Britain. He pointed out that the people in Britain •nd on the Continent were now entering on the winter season, which would press very hardly on the. destitute this year. lie referred to the obligations that New Zealand was under to tile Old Country for preserving the waterways of the world, whereby our cxnorts could he carried to the best market". The movement he was advocating was. h.' said, started in Canterbury, and had spread widely, having met with great support. It was desired to make it as wide as possible so as to take in all sections of the community, and to enlist | the services of the churehos. The ladies (could do their share, as it was intended (that the gifts should include articles of jwarm clothing, arrangements having been made for space on the HomewardI 'bound steamers for such gifts. It was to ho a Dominion movement, an appeal having been issued hy the Government in I that direction. There was no probability of leakage in the fund, and he feit sure that this national gift would he highly appreciated at Home. By assisting in this worthy object, it would show Britain and Belgium that the people of ■New Zealand were iloiiiir th.iv best to ■heln in the time <■< tr-H,',.. The Mayor moved: "Thai i : ii- meeting is in hearty synr-yth'- w:'h ('•■■ 'proposal to provide a Taranaki eiv:ilr : '"-if : (e.i 'to the Poor in Great Gr'ta.'ii an 1 Ireland and Belgium Relic!' I'iin '. .■;:;! IVt the Xew Plymouth Citizen- - IVvVi.' jFund Committee be a committee to .>:,- 'point an executive committee fo- 'innorthern portion of Taranaki to o'liain contributions of money and produce lor the fund."

His Worship mentioned that the reason for nominating the committor in the manner proposed was that the attendance was not sufficiently representative to elect a committee from among those present. Tn seconding the motion, Mr .Tohnstono emphasised that llritain and Belgium were one. and were entitled to all the support that New Zealand could give. Mr T. C. List, in supporting the motion, said that lie felt the proposed fund would appeal to the people of New Zealand with even greater force than did the Patriotic Fund. It was not a question of philauthrophy. hut of duty. The motion was carried unanimously. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Shalleross. who briellv acknowledged the compliment.