HELP FOR THAI WAR VETERANS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 18

HELP FOR THAI WAR VETERANS

National Appeal For Funds The Dominion executive committee of the Returned Services' Association has launched a nation-1 appeal to raise £2300 io purchase an urgently-needed water pump for a group of Thai former servicemen who are struggling to establish small farms on newly-developed hill country In Thailand. The committee decided to launch the appeal in response to a request for help made on behalf of the forner Thai servicemen by the World Veterans’ Federation. Giving his full support to the appeal, the Dominion president (Mr K W Fraser) in a letter to all association presidents said: "This project provides an opportunity tor our association to honour its responsibilities as a member of the W V.F " The pump Is urgently needed by the 45-family village of Muek Lek in Thailand. The village, situated just off the Friendship highway 30 miles from Saraburi, has been established under a Thai rehabilitation schema and the men of the village are »11 former servicemen. They are breaking in hill country and the pump is needed to raise water from a nearby river to storage tanka on the hillside. Given an Improved water supply these fanners could not only improve and increase the area of cultivated land, but also grow two crops a year instead of only one as at present. The Muek Lek rehebiHtaHon scheme has the full support of the W.VJT. and according to the New Zealand Department of External Affairs, is designed ”to bring Immediate and easily appreciated relief to people at village level.”