To-day’s Appeal By CORSO

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26396, 14 April 1951, Page 6

To-day’s Appeal By CORSO

No one who reads the annual reports of the New Zealand Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas can fail to be impressed by the great care that is taken to ensure that money and goods subscribed in this country are used where the need is greatest and used ;to the best advantage. Those who respond to the appeal for funds, which CORSO workers will make in a house-to-house collection to-day, can rest assured that their contributions will be used effectively in the international attack on the problems of hunger and distress. The money raised each year by CORSO, indeed, represents-only a fraction of tjie relief that this country provides. Much of the money, of course, is spent on food, milk powder; medical supplies, seeds, and other things; but a small part of the organisation’s funds is used to ship clothing, footwear, and other goods the value of which far exceeds the sums raised in the annual collections. The minimum New Zealand target for to-day’s appeal is £30,000; and this will permit CORSO to send additional supplies to the value of abogt £120,000, making £150,000 in all. Because of the rising threat of famine in the Indian sub-continent, the largest part of the organisation's direct spending this year will be devoted to relief in India and Pakistan; China, Europe, and Ceylon will also receive direct help in various ways. The need for relief, unfortunately, is little less than in the years immediately after the war. Recovery in some countries of Europe and Asia has been slow; political turmoil has made the refugee problem persistent end intractable; and in many countries food production has foiled to keep pace with the growing populations. Through CORSO, New Zealanders since 1945 have sent overteas, for the relief of these unfortunate people, goods valued at £595 00T; New Zealand contribution th UNRRA and the United Nations Appeal for Children bring the total to £2,500,000. New Zealanders can take some pride in this record; although, to a people enjoying one of ?■. task. .

the highest living standards in the world it should not occasion any smpg self-satisfaction. .-The essential thing is that New Zealanders, should understand that a good half ot the world is living very close to the bare subsistence level. Only by their help, and the help of the citizens ot other prosperous countries, can many of these people, men, women, and children, be saved from suffering and mtoery.