APPEAL ON BEHALF OF H.K. CHARITIES
THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Hong Kong Benevolent Society was held in the Board Room of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, Limited, at noon to-day, His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Atholl MacGregor, presiding, supported by Mr. P. S. Cassidy, Mrs. E. C. Frederick (Président), Mrs. C. W. Jeffries (Vice- President), Mrs. A. W. Compton (Hon. Treasurer), Mrs. H. F. Sommers (Hon. Secretary), and Mrs. B. C. Grigor (Assistant Hon. Secretary).
Mr Atholl said
are,
to say a little about some matters Once atanan 11 Is my privilege in which the generous public, 1: reside at the Annual General | when they understand what our Meeting of the Benevolent Society aspirations and our needs wich for over 50 years has charg- can. and, I feel confident,
ed itself with the care of those help us. not of Portuguese or Chinese race $5 e FB poverty, distress
N
mess
It is always a pleasant task, but mete piestsal than | {
th year, for the report which presently 1 shall ack you to adopt,
will
room
-
foreign and eurasian community. It is a grim business dealing with those who have previously lived in decent circumstances and it is often a heart-rending task trying to #nd 'a suitable niche for the mis ts. But you have a tradi- tion of more than half a century behind you and I feel confident that you in your next costumes are as eficient and benevolent as
I the crinolined (or should
say of the hustled) lattes bountiful early eighties.
An Investment
20
1 quite agree with the reference
Education. in the Report to The Society maintains a
can testify through my close con- in Kowloon which is always cupled. It is our carnest hope heetron with one of the Schools that goon we shall be able to get on your list that money spent en a house, or at least a whole flour the education of children in your j which! comewhere in Kowloon. Not only charge is an investment will this be ab economy in the yields, on the average, highly fine story of hroic effort in; loang
said, ¦ satisfactory returl. as I have ram, for.
I hope that the furys of very great difficulties, rents which we are paying for you will not find it necessary to
th Wide the repent and the accounts many men and women are high, reduce your grants under
I don't remember seen – which accompany it show that but it will enable us to give those heading. that effort was croword with suc- who we serve a far greater mea- ing any previous mention of one asure of privacy and self-respect of your number being specully This has manifestly been a year than they have under existing concerted with the schooling of of unusual difficulties. Just when conditions, it will give us the the children I am very glad to our plans for a concerted drive | comforting knowledge that we kene that this is the case to: members and supporters had | have somewhere to which we can:1 feel sure that the lady in ques- been cut and dried, and the car- send cases just discharged from tion is well rewarded for her at- paign, judging from is early re- hospital, and it will considerably tention to this branch of your SULIS. was assured of success, the lessen aur work in visiting the work I hope she doesn't take evacuation came, and the Society | sick
the school reports too seriously found itself so shut of helpers
as there is many 23 prominent that at one time the room in Ice
citizen who has survived the I use Street could be opened
familiar "could do better ir he only once a week. Everything had
tried " to be concentrated on the task of administering and distributing relief, and our constructive finan cial policy has had to mark time,¦ and we have not yet the helpers to make it effective.
Iv
War's Effects
Won't some charitable land. lord come to our assistance with either a whole house or a floor of a house? It would be a gift of inestimable value.
Simple Appeal
1
Local Charities
allowed
of
the
¦ I am extremely sorry to lea My second appeal is a simpler that many donations have been If the men of the colony diverted to "Wor Charities." I would only send all their discard-, do feel most strongly that local ed clothes to the Society instead, charities should not be of giving them to their servants, to suffer and that contributions Due of our great problems would to war funds should be regard- he virtually solved.
Let us re-ed as supplementary war taxation roive, each one of us, to persuade and not in lieu of support all our men friends to send to the such an organisation as yours. Society, or to the YMCA or to am sorry that the special effort Messrs. Kayamally, who act as made to enlist more subscribers Collectors for us, every serap of i came to an untimely end through wearing apparel for which they the evacuation but I hope that have no further use.
whers the great homecoming takes its place in the history of Coldry there will be some of the returned exiles ready to resum this very necessary work.
As I have remarked before the list of subscribers is a distinguished one but it is regrettably short and I hope that you and your succes- will not rest content until it is fully representative of forci en community.
In conclusion, I congratulate the President and Committee on
flying under keeping the flag very trying circumstances and I ani confident that the income of the society has been spent to the best advantage.
I have mentioned the extent to which the Society is able to en- sure sound education for children under E's care. That however is not enough. It is most disheartening to find that when boys and girls leave school it is so difficult to find employment for them. In such circumstances it takes very few months of aim-
All that has meant that we have had less money to spend than we confidently expected we should have when the year began. Please don't misunderstand me The last thing I want to suggest is that our appeal has not been met generous. On the contrary the response of the public has been most hears tening. BUT we had hoped to be able to have money to do so much mure and we realise that with war raging over must of the world we cannot expect the same measure 1 generous public support that we always received in times
of peace. The war has not only de creased and impaired many of our sourves of income but it has great- ly increased our inevitable
CX- less existence to undo very much penditure, and that in two ways: if not in fact all of the good that first, because with rents and food the discipline of school life has pices so greatly Increased
the conferred. cost of bare relict has risen of the colony I appeal to apply to materially; and, secondly, because the Society whenever they unemployment and distress con- vacancies for beginners in cleri- sequent on war conditions have cal, office or outdoor work, We increased the number of those in turn will undertake to do our who rely on Us for their sole utmost to send to them really means of livelihood.
suitable applicants.
111 New Cases
To the business men
Last Appeal
have
My last appeal is to the Govern-
We have had no fewer than 111 new cases during the year, and ment of the Colony. Government mony of the cases previously on gives us a generous annual dona- our books still need care and help tion and also lets us have the use because of old age, poverty or sickness.
go
Word Of Cheer
SOP'S
A FAMOUS BAND
uniform.
While
the
of
THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 28, 1941.
King George of Greece < viewing Greek troops; soldiers whose courage and gallantry have shown the world how a na- tion of free men can turn the tables
upon B brutal aggressor.
Greeks And The Contest
By E. P. Yannoulatos, Greek Consul-General in Shanghai
In closing one of his last ad- dresses in Athens, just before his death, our late prime minister and national leader, General John Metaxas, called upon the Nation to make a "total effort" by re- peating the paean of the warriors i of Salamis: "Now above all-the battle."
"SEVERE
ICING
CONDITIONS"
Tuesday was the anniversary of a Great Day in our long history, a day on which the Greek Na- tion took up arms in 1821 for its
Frequently in news bulletins freedom and independence. To- day we are again faced with the and pilots stories the phrase oc same dangers to our liberty-the Curs we found severe icing cou
ditions'. Ice is one of the real liberty and independence which
troubles which sometimes beset We have so jealously strived to preserve through centuries.
our bomber pilots on their long runs, but most of them are so ex-
peace
con-
Therefore it is fitting for me to perienced that they can avoid ser- ious consequences by taking pro- recall and for all Greeks to re-
per action. They may have th member the inspiring words of
come lower, and find a slightly our late great leader and de- dicate ourselves to the carrying warmer temperature, or they muy out of this, his last will to the go much higher and find nation, until victory and
ditions cold but dry. are obtained.
Sometimes, however, they can- Greece has steadfastly pursued not get out of the icing conditions a neutral policy in the present by either move; the humidity and European conflict. Our govern- temperature arc against them. ment has strived for years to im- Then it is a matter of real air- prove relations and maintain manship, and not infrequently an peace in the Balkans. For the sake anxious time. Ice, not in flakes
abstained but in Greece has from claiming territories which thrown from the airscrew and: though inhabited by Greeks for other parts of the aircraft, and thousands of years were held by sometimes the carburetter intake Italy and Albania. For the last suffers. twenty years the Greek people
of peace
considerable chunks
is
suppressed, all feelings of pain Recently a pilot returned from when they say their brothers suf- a long trip with a smile and a fer unheard of indignitles in these, very black eye. He had been tak- occupied territories.
ing one of our heavy bombers Our schools were closed, our across to pay a visit to a parti- The Germany. and young men
women were cular target in forced to learn Italian, our Germans suffered from his visit, Churches were shut and our but on the way his aircraft, iced. priests expelled or imprisoned up so badly that the airscrew was in disturbing yet the nation stood: all this or-throwing off ice deal in agony without a murmur quantities. One particularly large against the international treaties plece came off with such force that were responsible for this that it broke through the glazing abominable situation. And in ad- of the cockpit and almost knock-
over to
Many star instrumentalists of our room in Ice House Street free of all charge. Unfortunate-famous dance bands are serving in Our long range educational ly, however, the building policy is manifestly proving its
in the RAF. Indeed there is scarce which that room is situated has ly a "top of the bill" band which worth, and I am proud once been condemned; the room is is not well represented. more to acknowledge our deep overrun, with rats and is alto- From Ambrose's Band alone,dition and In spite of all this oured the pilot out, hitting him sense of gratitude and indebted gether a far from pleasant place eight men joined
up together. late Prime Minister worked with squarely in the face. Only the ness to the Directors of the in which to work. May we ex- They hoped their peace time as- zeal and energy for over four fact that the glazing had checked Schools which so generously help press the hope that when any ac-sociation might continue, and in years to improve and cultivate the force of the blow saved him. us by concessions, In the matter commodation in a government this they are lucky for they are relations with Italy.
from more serious damage. Still of fees.
These schools are Item- building in any similarly conven- still all together at an RAF ised on page 10 of the report. ient locality is available the ser- station.
The World knows what has he reached home and landed his Without their generosity our..ef-
happened. Without any provoca-
aircraft safely. vices which the Society renders to Lads who previously worked tion and without any warning we forts would be sadly hampered. the poor of the Colony will be for Jack Hylton, Jack Payne, Jack were asked in the early hours of
A night or two later another I do not think I need recognised in the grant of another Harris, Billy Cotton, Low Stone, October 28, to hand
pilot who had been no more than · seriatim through the matters room in which to carry on our and half a score of other popular Fascist Italy the rest of our Coun a few miles, by road, walked dealt with in the roport. It is a work. record of useful work well done,
band leaders are now in RA.F. try. The reply given by the late into an obstruction in the black- out. He too sustained a black- despite difficulties, and the So-
General Metaxas on that memor- ciety has every reason to be proud
these men are
underable morning, would have been ish eye. When he appeared-in of' it.
Mr. P. S. Cassidy, who follow portunities to be bandsmen,
training, they are, still given op- given to the Italian Minister by the mess he was greeted with a (enial chorus: "More ice?" and every Greek man and wornan in During the year we have losted, suid:-
blushingly retired, "unable 'to That is why the R.A.F. has or outside of Greece. a most valued supporter in Mr. I have spoken at these an- been able to form what is claim- A. W. Hughes, who was always nual meetings so often that
As her national anniversary found¡ claim the allbi. Ied to be the best dance band in Grecce fighting again for her ready both with advice and with feel entitled to a place among the the country a section of financial help.
the rights and independence; fighting To Mrs. Hughes old..cases..on.. your books. and him we
My Central Band of the R.A.F. under for the right of people to live free homage to our great friends who. extend our thanks particular job, however, is to bring Wing Commander R. P. O'Donnell, and unmolested; fighting for the by their timely assistance, assis and our cordial good wishes for you a word of cheer from health and happiness in Australia. world of commerce and to
<the||| M.V_0., Director of Music.
rights given by God to man--and tanec : that meant hardships to UB- Every man in this 'R.A.F. dance will fight to the end. Even if them, contributed to our victories Surely, it is not over optimistic sure you that although there may band is known to the public, Grecce is overcome by the enemy, to Great Britain who has spared to express the hope that shortly not be many bouquets showered Recently the band has been her Honour will be preserved at no effort to come to our assistance
upon you there is nevertheless a touring RAF stations giving all costs, her traditions will re- and to the great American de deep sense of appreciation by complete entertainments with main "unscathed so that, come mocracy who have unreservedly business and professiphal men of guest artists. Shortly it is to what may, she may continue to given us wholehearted support; the great service you are render" broadcast, and will also be mak-remain the symbol of liberty, hon- and to the World in general which ing to the community.
Binga series of gramophone re our democracy and faith in God, has applauded our victories, · as- Greeks to-day who think ofsisted our war relief organisations victorious or suffering Greece, and given us material and moral recall with - gratitude and pay support,
there will arise someone who will assume the mantle of Mr. Hughes and help helped us.
us as for so long he Aspirations And Needs
We realise that there is no po- cords. The proceeds will go to Before I move the adoption of litical kudos to be gained from RA.F. charities and the Com- the 'report' and- accounts" I want, helping the lame ducks of the forts Fund.