Australia

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 23 February 1915, Page 5

Australia

AN APPEAL FROM BELGIUM. A NATION THREATENED WITH STARVATION. Sydney, February 22. The Belgian Commission cables a long appeal to Australia and New Zealand for continuous supreme efforts on behalf of the seven million starving Belgians. The sum of £1,250,000 must be provided every month. In Brussels alone two hundred thousand people daily wait in the snow for the bread of tears. la Liege thirty thousand old men, wom?n, children and cripples wait for half a pound of bread and a litre (1 3-5 pints) ot soup, which enable them to live. Babies and children are barely kept alive for want of milk. The Commission expresses the fear that the amazing self-restraint of the people in suppressing the inevitable hatred will collapse under the impelling anguish of hunger, and they will strike desperately against the, invader. Sucli a revolt of unarmed men would be tragic in its' futility and they would suffer the inevitable consequences, being shot like ravenous dogs. Will Australia and New Zealand stand by calmly and await suei'i an end to Belgium's noble sacrifice'.' Only a stupendous organised effort can avert a catastrophe. Four good-sized cargoes of cereals must be shipped to Belgium weekly, or the Belgian nation, to the world's eternal shame, will perish. The Commission has undertaken lo carry cargoes and relief supplies free. Whnit and money are chiefly required. The "im of ,€75,000 will fill a five thouaa—l J on ship with cargo and keep Reign:'" r "om starvation for two days. Will Australia and New Zealand give £7.",OOO.or equivalent food,.monthly? The effort must not only be superhuman, but continuous. THE WHEAT ACQUISITION ACT. ITS OPERATION INVALID. Received 22, 9.5 p.m. Melbourne, February 22. The Inter-State Commission delivered judgment in the Commonwealth Government's application for an injunction to restrain the New South Wales Government from interfering with InterState trade in regard to the seizure of wheat under the Wheat Acquisition Act. The Commission, by two to one, ui>held the Commonwealth plaint, Mr Pi;ldington, chairman, of the Commission, forming th\- '.vinorlVr