OUR ABERDARE FUND—POINTS FROM LETTERS We wish we had space

to pint all the letters of sympathy from our readers about our Fund. Appended is a small collection of excerpts Mr. C. I. Smith-Pearson, Castle Street, Launceston, Cornwall. " It. would be helpful to get into personal touch with someone in authority, so as to arrive at the real needs of the district.

The Misses. M. and F. M. Campbell, 37 Lansdowne Road, W.11.. My sistei and I send 20s., half from each; and hope to continue to pay this sum monthly-in support Of your Fund.

Mr. Rbbirt.Canipbell,- J.P.; Kinellan,' Wimbledon Common, S.W. . . I consider it an excellent idea to adopt a specific town or . district, as personal contact is worth so much in cases of this

- sort. - -

Mr. C. W. Sabin, 3.7 Hodford Road, N.W. 11.

On the broad ground of humanity—to put it no higher than that—yotir Fund.•sh-Onld: set flowing a streoun of gifts frem those who may be hesitating where to send money, and who would prefer to be associated with the relief of a definite area, rather than give to a-fund in the dispensing of which they can have no personal

interest. _ .

The Misses Lucy and A. M. Sturnson, Dee Bank, Fe:radon, Nr. Chester.

Like many other people I think we have hesitated to subscribe- to other appeals because we feel that the mere relieving of present distress does not solve the problem at all, and may almost com plicate it by taking away the incentive to emigration which actual shortness of food undoubtedly is ; though it is a very cruel way of bringing it about, but perhaps not so cruel in the long run as keeping - people where there isn't and never_ can- be work for them. May I suggest that if the sum collected by the Spectator is a large one, some of the money might be spent on helping the surplus population of Aberdare tb" find work overseas or anywhere else where there is work in this country ?- Miss E. M. Lancaster. MiraMar, Grail, Fife. - I feel sure that the terrible distress in the mining centres, is not sufficiently generally known, and I hope more papers will follow youi lead and' tell their readers the' true facts of the case.

Mrs. Robinson, 14 Gardnor Mansions, Church Row, Hampstead, N.W.

I am very glad that you have chosen one town in the distressed area to which to send contributions collected. In this way a' personal interest is stimulated, and a link formed between . those who are in need and those who are able to help their need.

Miss Willwyn, Ty Glyn, West Cross, R.S.O., Swansea. _

I hope the idea may be taken up widely and acted on of adopting Welsh mining towns.

Mrs. E. Hopkins, Abbot's Fee, Greenhill, Sherborne, Dorset.

May I, as a thirty year subscriber, say how glad I am you haVe opened a Fund ? It seems less impersonal than some of the others. - - - Mr. J. Muir, 7 Wagner Street, London, S.E. 15. Please find £1-towards your Aberdare Fund. I will try and - repeat monthly if possible. • - - , 'Mr.- W.- Balfour Gourlay, 7 Millington Road, Cambridge. -

It would be interesting to know whether any transportation is contemplated of unemployed to areas where employment is available.

Mr. E. M. Murray, 130 Fenchurch Street, E.C. 3. May I be allowed to voice a very general opinion that, at an- urgent crisis- such -as the present, all - senthnetitelities - about Christmas and Santa Claus presents be avoided, and the money subscribed applied to more practicalbenefits„ such as soup- kitchens, orders (as you partly suggest) for the bare necessities

of life, etc: ? - •

Lt.-Col. H. H. G. Knapp, 20 Dunkeld Road, Bournemouth. For the Aberdare Fund ; more to follow, I hope: Intended for real necessities, such as- food and clothing. Not intended for sentimentalities, such as Christmas.

Rev. M. A. Bucknall, Skillingford Rectory, Exeter. May many more do the like and better. If only people would give-to-the-distressed instead of giving to their comfortably off friends ! They might this year. _

Mrs. A. F. Buxton, Fairhill, Tonbridge.

I have much pleasure in enclosing a cheque for five pounds for the Aberdare Coal Field. I alieady have`a boy from Durham'. - I wish the young people could mostly be moved South or to the Colonies.

Miss Curwen, Post Knott, Windermere. , This is sent by my Bible Class, consisting of working men, women and Servants. If it be not asking too much -may we kriovi the name or address of the child we should like to help for- three - months..? It would be of great interest and help to the class. • Sir Walter Roper Lawrence, 94' Eaton Square, London, S.W. I. It is right to give this temporary help : but I should much prefer that the money you raise should be devoted to aid emigration.

Miss Wallis, Highfield, Oxhey Lane, Watford. I' have -asked my 'grocer to -deliver to you one side of bacon at once, and three pounds of butter weekly, till further notice.