THE BREAD FUND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2447, 11 March 1909, Page 3

THE BREAD FUND.

[To the Editor.] Sir, —In reply to “Pro Patna/’ let me say that I quite agree witlf him that “charity begins at home/’ hut I go further than that, and contend that “it does not end there,” or the world would be a sad place indeed to live in. Our “neighbor,” as was shown in the matchless story of the ‘•'Good Samaritan” nineteen centuries ago, is “the man who is in need.” Wherever there is real need ; and we are brought into contact with it, it is our duty to supply it to the best of our ability. The fact that some other man whose duty it is to supply that need has failed to do so does not relieve us of our responsibilty. If you found a man in Gisborne to-mor-row who had plenty of well-to-do friends, and who was dying _for lack of food, you would surely minister to his necessities, even while you were righteously indignant J at the callous conduct of his friends ! I believe that the. people who, sent £134,000 to our friends and allies in Italy in the day of, their desperate need are the very people who are contributing _ their hundreds of thousands for their own starving kith and kin. But suppose, and we apologise for making such a hateful supposition, those people had done nothing for their own starving countrymen, are we therefore to harden our hearts against the little children who to-day are crying in vain for food? Is not the need all the greater if they have failed to supply it? We admit, sadly, that if the wealthy in the Old Land- did what they ought to do in the present crisis there would be no need for New Zealand to send money Home, but seeing tliev have failed to meet the need, shall not we recognise the privilege and responsibility of giving what help we can? The need is very real and very great. It is not my province to discuss here its cause or its cure. I have directed the attention of the public to the fact, and am grateful to those who have generously responded to the appeal for bread. —I am, etc., WILLIAM GRANT.