CORSO APPEAL

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27603, 9 March 1955, Page 9

CORSO APPEAL

TARGET OF £60,000 CAMPAIGN OPENED BY MR HOLYOAKE “It’s true to say that here in New Zealand we’re living today in a world of plenty. Compared with Asia, Africa and certain other parts of the world, we enjoy plenty of money, plenty of food, and plenty of clothing. But it is chastening to remind ourselves that it’s not the same in many other parts of the world,” said the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake) in a broadcast address. Mr Holyoake was opening the 1955 appeal for £60.000 by the Councli of Organisations for Relief Services Overseas. “There is a real need for an organisation like CORSO in the world today,” said Mr Holyoake. “Take India for example. Here is an ancient country where widespread poverty and malnutrition are a part of everyday life. The average Indian is living on less than half the calories each day that we have in New Zealand, and for the most part his diet is poorly balanced. There is one doctor in India to each 6000 people—while in New Zealand there is one to 800. There is one death each minute in India from tuberculosis. It would be easy to multiply figures of this kind for almost every element by which we judge standards of living." Korea was an example of a peaceful country devastated by war, and the task of cleaning up the ruins of the country would be a long and arduous one, he said. A New York journalist who toured ruined cities in South Korea reported finding 10,000.000 refugees homeless because of the war, 100,000 war orphans needing homes and medical aid. 300,000 war widows needing immediate assistance, and 15,000 amputees without artificial limbs.

Mr Holyoake said that last year aid from CORSO had gone to India, East and West Pakistan, Korea, Greece. Japan, the Middle East, the Philippines, Ceylon. British Somaliland, British Hong Kong, Southern Rhodesia, and Burma.

“Who is to know where sudden calamity such as war, earthquake, fire, hurricane, or other tragedy of man or nature may strike again?” he said. “CORSO is always prepared to meet such an eventuality. An organisation like CORSO is necessary if we’re to help raise the standard of living of the world’s people above starvation level, if we’re to help educate the people of these countries, if we’re to save lives.”