SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 294, 18 December 1919, Page 3

SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND.

As a consequence of the war and the famine which followed in its train, there is a most deplorable condition of affairs in Central and Eastern Europe. Not only arc grown-up men and women suffering, but thousands of small children arc absolutely starving. Many babies never get one drop of milk, and as a consequence they arc dying by hundreds, and those living arc emaciated, affli< ted with tuberculosis and other diseases caused by malnutrition, and whose health is being permanently ruined. The object of the ‘Save the Children Fund” is to send relief to all children throughout the famine area.

Lord Robert Cecil is at the head of the* organisation, and the British Government have sanctioned, within certain limits, a proposal to provide one pound for every pound raised, and spent by charitable organisations in the United Kingdom for the relief of tin* distress in Europe. General Smuts and Lord Curzon have both made eloquent appeals for help. Mothers have been so starved that in many districts 50 per cent, of the children are stillborn. One Jewish mother had been four days without food when her child was born. Famine is a deadly menace to the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, and an appeal ha* been sent to the women of the British Empire to help their sisters in distress. This appeal ha* been *igned by Ruth Atkinson and Elizabeth H. Rutter as representing New Zealand women. The need is very urgent. Hundreds of thousands of c hildren will die thi* winter of cold and hunger and disease unless we make the greatest efforts to save them. Wherever a c hild is starving or a mother needing food there our sympathy and help *hould go, whether to our brave allies or to the conquered countries, now no longer enemies. Little < hildren were not responsible for the war; their mothers had no voice in declaring it, hut upon these the heaviest suffering has fallen. Can we not at this Christmas time deny ourselves of luxuries and send the money to those who have neither food, clothing, nor firing? The Master said. “Inasmuch a* ye did it to the least of these My brethren, ye Hid it unto Me.”

W’e hear much of the German Hymn of Hate. Let us send hack to thorn as answer a glorious hymn of

lovr translated int<» deeds. Love show ing itself by denying: ourself to send food and comfort to the suffering.

All contributions may be sent to tin N.Z. I reasurcr of the Soviet* of I'riends, Wai Relief Committee, Mi I heo. West, jo, Dexter Avenue, .Mt. Eden, Auckland, or direct to the London Secretary, Mr C. R. Buxton, ;j<>. High llolbom, London, W.C. The money max be ear marked to be sent to am country the subscriber u ishes.