The Spanish Refugee Children's Fund.

"Salient" had intended to issue an independent appeal for funds for this cause; but we learned that the Executive had been invited to send a representative to a meeting convened by the Mayor for this purpose.

The object of this fund is to create and maintain colonies to which Spanish children may be removed from the war zone. Many countries have already established these colonies, and English, organisations have been operating them very successfully. The children are cared for, their education is continued and gradually the colony is becoming self-supporting, because Spanish children even at the early age of 13 or 14 are fully capable of following agricultural pursuits. They thus build up their own little farms and run them. Compare this with the condition of many Spanish children, who are living in the hills lives of terrible hardship and starvation; and some are even living in caves.

Under the scheme of establishing colonies, the Executive's representative, Mr. J. B. Almers, told "Salient." one child can he maintained for one year for the sum of approximately £14.

The meeting convened by his Worship the Mayor showed that it would take several weeks to set up a committee. The Executive took the attitude that the students have no time to approach outside organisations, but they are capable of organising a campaign within the University.

The scheme within the University has the support of the Students" Association Executive; which intends, with the help of "Salient's" staff, to communicate with the other constituent colleges to start a campaign throughout the New Zealand Universities. Even if the constituent Colleges raise sufficient money for one child only, it will be a definite move in the right direction.

It must be emphasised that this campaign is a purely humanitarian one. The immediate welfare of the Spanish children is so urgent that an enquiry into political issues is not necessitated.

Any students willing to work on a sub-committee please communicate urgently with Mr. Amiers by means of the notice board. Remember—6d from every student Will keep two children for a year.