CHILDREN DYING.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1922, Page 4

CHILDREN DYING.

NO FOOD IN RUSSIA. APPEAL FROM THE PULPIT. The famine in Russia was referred to by the Rev. A. H. Collins in the of his sermon at the Baptist Church at New Plymouth last night. The preacher said it was stated by competent judges that twenty millions of the Russian people must die, and of these a large proportion were women and children. Dr. Nansen had said that 20- per cent, of the children can receive one meal a day. These are placed in a list, and the remaining 80 per cent, have to die. Such, is the clesperate plan; for if all the children had a share the portion would be so small that all would die. Mothers frenzied by hunger had eaten their own daughters, and fathers their sons.

To a small extent the calamity was due to missrule, but in the main it was the result of natural causes. In the Volga Valley the rainfall dropped to three inches instead of fourteen, and the crops were burnt up. Whatever the cause, our chief concern was relief. Millions of children were starving. They are our flesh and blood. There was breadstuff sufficient in the clipboard of the world to save them. We were not responsible for doing the impossible, but we were responsible for doing all we can. One shilling would feed a child for a week, and twenty shillings would save a child till the next harvest.

- Mr. Collins said: “I am sure your conscience will not allow you to withhold such help as it is in your power to give. It is the call of expediency, for Europe cannot be stabilised until Russia is set on her feet. It is the call of humanity and religion.”