FOOD FOR SAMOA

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 10

FOOD FOR SAMOA

‘Overseas Aid Still Needed’

Western Samoa will need at least £200.000 toorth of food between May and November. according to a circular from the headquarters of the New Zealand Red Cross Society. The estimate was based on a report by the society’s national commissioner (Mr C. McLennan) after he returned from a visit to Western Samoa to inspect hurricane damage, the circular said. “Mr McLennan advised that the present large stocks of European-type food, together with local crops, could be expected to last until mid-May. but that new crops would not be ready again until November.

' “During this period Western Samoa would be dependent on overseas assistance, both in the form of outright gifts of food and cash loans for buying food overseas" Although no further shipments were being sent from New Zealand in the meantime. the society had decided that the hurricane relief fund would remain open.

Contributions to the fund, including the Government’s donation, now totalled £23.430, the circular said. Nine thousand pounds of this had been spent. The secretary of the North Canterbury centre (Mr R T Lipscombe) said that £1360 had been raised in North Canterbury, through public contributions and payments from sub-centres funds.