“N.Z. Must Do More To Aid Poorer Countries”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 17

“N.Z. Must Do More To Aid Poorer Countries”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 22. The national secretary of C.0.R.5.0. and the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, the Rev. H. C. Dixon, has arrived back from a world tour convinced that New Zealanders must increase their efforts to assist under-developed countries. “New Zealand’s per capita

giving to date is the highest in the world," said Mr Dixon today, “but when I compare the standard of living here with what I saw overseas, I felt quite certain that we have got to do a great deal more.”

Mr Dixon was a member of New Zealand's five-man delegation to the world food congress in Washington last month. Then he continued on a world tour with a two-fold purpose—to make first-hand contact with international relief agencies and to see for himself the living conditions in needy countries. Places he visited included Geneva, Rome, Athens, Jordan, Lebanon, the Gaza strip, Karachi. Calcutta, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia.

Mr Dixon said the congress confirmed his opinion that the present Freedom , from Hunger Campaign was working along the right lines—removing the causes of hunger and helping countries to develop themselves. In many parts of the world he saw evidence of New Zealand contributions being put to good use. These included vocational training centres for young people -In the Middle East, milk powder distribution in Hong Kong and Calcutta, and a well in a part of Jordan where rain never fell.