UNRRA AND FOOD
FUTURE OF LEAGUE LUNCHEON EXHIBITS TO-DAY Food, and the vital part it plays in the life of to-day, both in the starving countries of Europe, and in rationed, vitamin-conscious New Zealand, was the source of keen interest and enthusiasm at a special luncheon meeting of the New Zealand Women's Food Value League to-day. Of immediate local interest were the exhibits of biscuits made without butter, cooked goods made with yeast instead of baking powder as a raising agent, Food Value League nectar, made from carrot and kindred juices, soya bean displays, and luncheon rolls filled with appetising but butterless fillings. Of wider significance was an address on the work of Unrra by the Rev. J. W. McKenzie, who was senior chaplain to the 2nd N.Z.E.F., in Italy, and who returned to New Zealand some months ago.
Reminding his audience that Unrra's task was to restore a semblance of normal life and order in liberated countries, and to feed, clothe, and house the people, Mr. McKenzie described the distress which he had himself seen among refugees in Italy after the country fell to the Allies.
"I was in a transit camp at Bari last year when hundreds of refugees were pouring in, having crossed the Adriatic in boats of all kinds," he said.
Pitiful War Orphans "I saw over 100 orphans arrive, a pitiful pilgrimage of ragged children, alone in the world but for each other. In one week, 200 youngsters reached the camp by boat. The adults we saw were depressed in mind, and like the children, were ragged, covered with vermin, diseased and utterly destitute. "Various societies took them over as they passed through the camp, which was in the charge of a Scottish colonel and a New Zealand major. As Unrra had not then gone into action, the military authorities were handling the refugees." Similar distress was witnessed in Greece by Mr. McKenzie, who escaped when the Germans conquered the country. He saw streams of hungry, cold people fleeing to the hills, doomed to.suffer appalling hardship and starvation during the occupation.
Reforms For Future The object of the luncheon was to show that in post-war construction, the Food Value League had an outstanding opportunity to accomplish many reforms for which it had painstakingly prepared over a period of years. For this purpose, it was stated, more members and funds were needed, and people had to be educated more and more in the value of foods. The Mayoress, Mrs. Allum, opened a bring-and-buy, and competition entries were judged by Miss Joan Rattray and Mr. H. R. Hansen. Among the interesting exhibits was a sample of goat's milk, which members were able to taste.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19450801.2.13
Bibliographic details
UNRRA AND FOOD, Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1945
Word Count
447UNRRA AND FOOD Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1945
Using This Item
Fairfax Media is the copyright owner for the Auckland Star. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Fairfax Media. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.