FUTURE OF UNRRA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 62, 22 December 1945, Page 5

FUTURE OF UNRRA

FUNDS TO LAST ONLY TO MARCH (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 21.“The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration will pome to a complete stop about March, 1946 having spent all its resources, and its continued existence depends upon the will to co-operate of the United Nations, whose agent UNRRA is,” said Lieut.-Commander Harold W. Larsen, who has recently been appointed UNRRA representative, in New ealand. Lieut.-Commander Larsen arrived in Wellington yesterday and .was received by the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Nash). “In practical terms,” said Lieut.Commander Larsen, “this means that the member nations of UNRRA- must decide whether they desire to make a second contribution of 1 per cent. Should this be made, UNRRA will be able to operate during 1946. By . a resolution of the UNRRA Council, UNRRA will, in any event cease operations in Europe in December, 1946, and in the Far Eastdn March, 1947. It is not intended that relief and rehabilitation should he carried through till it becomes reconstruction, which is a matter for the individual nations. “At the council conference held in London in August, UNRRA delegates carried a resolution to recommend their governments to make a second contribution. So far only Britain has given a definite indication of its intention,” continued Lieu&.-Comman-der Larsen. “In expectation that the contribution will be made, UNRRA must plan ahead accordingly. Failureto do so would mean that relief would not be ready at the -time and places it would be needed as soon as the resources became available.”

Lieut.-Commander Larsen added that he had come to'Wellington to open a«nd conduct a New Zealand office for the South-west Pacific area office of UNRRA, which was located in Sydney,