CORSO APPEAL IN CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25549, 17 July 1948, Page 2

CORSO APPEAL IN CHRISTCHURCH

WORK OF ORGANISATION A street day will be held in Christchurch on Wednesday by the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas. CORSO was formed in New Zealand at a meeting in Wellington on August 16, 1944, after similar organisations had been formed in Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the Middle. East, to assist devastated countries in need of relief and rehabilitation. CORSO had hardly come into existence in New Zealand when UNRRA officers arrived with the intention of encouraging such an organisation in order that UNRRA could draw upon the pooled experience of “voluntary relief agencies.” The organisation was convened by the Society of Friends, the National Council of Churches, and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. The Government backed the organisation, and later provided a secretary (Mr C. W. Morrison) with an office, typiste, and office requisites. Many organisations throughout New Zealand joined CORSO, and by Christmas, 1945, four teams of workers had left for Europe to join UNRRA. Teams have been sent to Greece and China, and wide support was given to the UNRRA clothes drive. Goods sent to Greece were valued at £llO,OOO, other European countires received 988 cases, valued at £23,000, and China received £67,000 in goods. Although teams have been withdrawn from Greece, CORSO workers have been sent to China to relief organisations already established there. Mr Rewi Alley has been provided with teams, and individuals and bodies in New Zealand have given aid in the form of stock, equipment, and funds. CORSO’S largest undertaking was the organising of the United Nation;?’ Appeal for Children. I