Wide N.Z. Support For C.0.R.S.O.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 2

Wide N.Z. Support For C.0.R.S.O.

Most New Zealanders belong to some organisation which is affiliated to C.0.R.5.0. according to the Rev. H. Dixon, national secretary of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign. In a statement to draw attention to the annual house-to-house appeal next Saturday he says that more than 90 per cent of the people are in some way attached to the work.

“Thus C.0.R.5.0. is not simply some small group of well-intentioned church and welfare workers engaged on the fringe of things in sending a few parcels of clothing around the world every now and then,” Mr Dixon says. “It is today a large business organisation with international contacts and economic obligations in every corner of the world, supported by people of all beliefs from all walks of life. “Working in close cooperation with the New Zealand Government and with specialised agencies of the United Nations, C.0.R.5.0. has developed a network of reliable contacts and distributing agencies throughout all parts of the world. It is in close and constant touch with world events from local info rm e d correspondents throughout the globe. It is thus fully aware of local political and social conditions in dozens of countries on all continents. Record Of Transactions

“Like any international organisation, it keeps an exact record of all monies, and goods sent around the world, and an equally exact record of all letters and bills of receipt. It is like any reputable concern, always strongly disturbed at insinuations by the few misguided souls who seem to enjoy speculating in public about the safe arrival of goods at their destinations.

“In spite of receiving an immense degree of strong moral and practical support from the New Zealand people in general, C.0.R.5.0.’s work can, however, suffer greatly from such ill-founded pieces of guesswork based on little more than hearsay and surmise. As our 1966 annual New Zealand-wide appeal draws near, we of C.0.R.5.0. should like to reassure the public on this point. “In 21 years we have sent some £l6m of money and goods to more than 40 countries, and we have received detailed receipts of all goods received by each one of the hundreds of distributing and recipient organisations concerned. We have seen no signs of misappropriations of these goods. Again, like any large overseas organisation, our checking system would immediately show up any such suggestion of foul play. “Finally, we should like to thank all New Zealand for its devoted and generous support in the past. You are helping to meet the greatest challenge of our time —giving the other half of the world a chance to live without fear of death, disease, or disaster. We in comfortable New Zealand have that chance. Why should not they? ‘We know New Zealand will again this year play its part in the world break-through against hunger and degrading poverty.