The Press SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1959. Refugees

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28920, 13 June 1959, Page 12

The Press SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1959. Refugees

Gne of the great tragedies of the twentieth century is the driving from their homelands of peoples of many races. The process began during the First; World War; they are fleeing from Tibet today. The essence of the tragedy is that many, : many of them never find any' kind of substitute for their’ home. The children born in refugee camps have never even■ known a home. Nearly one million White Russians who left| their country 40 years ago are[ still refugees; all told, refugees; in various parts of the world still number something like 40' million. The United Nations | Commissioner charged with j their care gets no assured! finance for his work of mercy.' and the public response over the world to his appeals for help has never been quite large enough to sustain his modest plans. That is the background to the International Refugee Year, which opened on June 1 and will make its direct appeal to New Zealand citizens today. The idea of this great international effort to solve some of the most pressing, but by no means all, refugee problems came from four young Conservatives in Britain, including Mr Christopher Chataway. It was

’ taken up by the British Governfiment, which gained the backing • of the General Assembly of the !: United Nations. One of the particular objects is to make ; life easier for the relative hand- • ful of remaining Second World . War refugees in Europe. They number 160.000. about 30.000 of ■ whom are still in camps. They i are tl\e most difficult to help, i ■ since through age or infirmity ’ they are not acceptable as immi- : grants by countries that might ■ otherwise take them. New Zea- ; land has cause for pride here, I because it has agreed to admit' I some of these unfortunates: but : >: not too much pride is justified, ! i because we are taking only 55' I! persons in 20 families. Perhaps . i our example will encourage ■ others in this practical charity. ■ However, the aim of the inter- : national campaign is to find > money to support relief work - not only in Europe but also in I Hong Kong or wherever refui gees may be found. The New t Zealand goal of £50.000 (half s the total sought today by the C O R.S.O. collectors) is not) - large in relation to the need, f C.0.R.5.0. should have little > difficulty in raising the full » £lOO,OOO to maintain its own ■ work and make the New Zea- • land contribution to the inters national appeal.