CORSO APPEAL

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27614, 22 March 1955, Page 3

CORSO APPEAL

HELP FOR REFUGEES OVERSEAS

“No one can deny that conditions in the world today call .for urgent and drastic measures to raise the standard of living in the destitute countries. But in the meantime, refugees continue to live or exist under indescribable conditions, and indeed, thousands each year are dying from starvation or from disease directly attributable to malnutrition,” says a statement from CORSO.

“Refugees become refugees through no fault of their oWn," the statement continues. ’’ In India and Pakistan, today’s refugees are yesterday's civilian community, whose only crime was to belong to religions that decreed they should transniigrate from their own homes into the country of their religion—lndia for Hindus and Pakistan for Moslems. This was probably the greatest mass movement of population in history, and the inevitable outcome was the creation of millions of refugees. “ Even more terrible was the devastating effect of modem warfare on Korea where men, women and children were bombed out of their homes to become refugees in the ruined cities that did not have the food to support them. The plight of little Korean children is pitiful— especially those who have lost arms or. legs through bomb explosions or traffic accidents. War takes no pity on the innocent, and even today* these children are being picked up in the last stages of exhaustion and starvation on the streets of Seoul and Pusan. No matter what is the race or religion of a refugee, starvation is starvation m any language. “In New Zealand there is an organisation that was especially established for the purpose of helping these refugees. It is the Council of Organisations for Relief Services Overseas, universally known as CORSO, and for eleven years this organisation has canred out its duties faithfully and conscientiously. It is a thoroughly reputable organisation, backed by more than 30 national public bodies who direct the channels through which CORSO aid should be sent. People in all walks of life give their time freely and voluntarily to help in this great cause and this keeps the administrative expenses down to the absurdly low figure of less than four per cent., thus ensuring that the aid really does go to those for whom it is intended. ’

Once a year CORSO calls upon the people of New Zealand to contribute what the feel they should give to help the needy overseas. This year’s CORSO appeal was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake), and was supported in a radio talk by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash). “ For those who feel the urge to help their fellow beings in distress, CORSO shows the way. /The address of the CORSO headquarters is 100 Lambton quay, Wellington.”