THE RUSSIAN

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1922, Page 4

THE RUSSIAN

Great Britain, through the Lord i Mayor of London, has issued a moving I appeal to the Dominions for help in I the work of ministering to the faminestricken areas of Russia, It is satisfactory to know that the Mayor of New Plymouth has taken steps to bring the necessity before our citizens, and that the borough council has consented to a street collection on Friday next. Taranaki has never turned a deaf ear to a genuine case of need, and we are confident they will not refuse help where it is so sorely needed. The facts have only to be known and the response will be general and generous. The heart must be hard indeed that could turn unheeding away when millions of start - ing people cry for bread. The fact that the distressed multitudes include crowds of helpless children makes the appeal simply ' irresistible in its urgency. A district twice the size of France is in tho grip of dire, need, as well as a dreadful plague <>f spotted typhus. The appeal from Russia is unparalleled in its urgency, and, in the presence of such human misery, no humane man, whatever may be his opinion of recent events in Russia, will allow hie instinct of sympathy to be silenced. Fear has been expressed that relief funds might be diverted by the Soviet Government. Such fear is absurdly groundless. The Russian Famine Relief Fund has incontestable proof that help sent to these starving millions reaches its destination intact. Moreover, it is proposed that funds raised in New Zealand will, as far as possible, be expended on New Zealand produce, either by purchasing in the Dominion tinned milk and such other foodstuffs as may be easily shipped, or by releasing some of the large quantities of-New Zealand produce. But what is done must be done quickly-