RELIEF SUPPLIES FLOWN TO SAMOA

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30982, 11 February 1966, Page 12

RELIEF SUPPLIES FLOWN TO SAMOA

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 10. Western Samoa’s supplies crisis created by last week’s hurricane will be met late tomorrow by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules transport aircraft. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) announced tonight that a Hercules would leave New Zealand tomorrow with a 15ton supply load consisting of skimmed milk powder, oatmeal, flour, canned meat and fish, iron tablets, vaccines and urgently needed agricultural materials and equipment.

He said that Mr A. J. McLennan, the national commissioner of the New Zealand Red Cross Society, would travel aboard the aircraft to make an on-the-spot survey of Western Samoa’s relief requirements.

The Prime Minister said the food and medical supplies had been provided by the New Zealand Red Cross Society from its national hurricane relief fund, to which the Government had given £lO,OOO. Agricultural supplies, consisting of seeds, fertilisers and weed-killers to stem the spread of banana disease, had been contributed by the New Zealand Freedom from Hunger Campaign. The Prime Minister said that other governments had expressed their concern about the hurricane’s severe effect on Western Samoa’s economy and had inquired about possible assistance. RED CROSS APPEAL The Red Cross Society’s relief fund for the islanders now exceeds £llOO, it was announced today. “Response had been poor up till today,” a spokesman for the society said. “Now it is encouraging.” The Bank of New Zealand gave £5OO today. During the last two days Wellington’s Scots College pupils and staff raised £6O for the appeal.

A R.N.Z.A.F. Sunderland flying boat mercy flight has provided the hurricane-stricken Tokelau Islands with 29001 b of relief equipment and food. Announcing this today, the Minister of Island Territories (Mr Hanan) said the Sunderland had landed rice, flour, skimmed milk powder, sago, sugar, corned beef, buiscuits and dripping. Mr Hanan said the entire breakwater surrounding the island of Fakaoho had been damaged, the copra shed com-

pletely destroyed and engineering equipment used in the boat channel rendered unserviceable. I KETCH STILL MISSING No sign of the missing ketch Marinero. overdue at Apia, Western Samoa, since the hurricane of January 30, had been found by midday today by searching aircraft, the rescue co-ordination centre in Nandi, Fiji, reported. A spokesman for the centre said that aircraft were continuing the search today. The Marinero, carrying five persons, including Mr Ted i Thorpe of the staff of the I New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, was due to arrive in Apia on February 1 ’from Wallis Island.