New Zealand ‘Lucky And Selfish Country’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 17

New Zealand ‘Lucky And Selfish Country’

“New Zealand is one of the luckiest countries in the world, and at the same time one of the most selfish,” said the Rev R. M. O’Grady, assistant general secretary of the National Council of Churches. “With most of the world living in poverty we live in wealth; with almost every nation over-populated we breathe fresh air and limit our immigration; with children starving in Calcutta we stretch our stomachs to capacity.”

Addressing a combined churches dinner at Masterton, Mr O’Grady quoted figures recently published by the World Bank and supplied privately to the N.C.C. On gross national productivity these showed New Zealand to be the fifth wealthiest major country in the world behind the United States, Sweden, Switzerland and Canada. “It is intolerable” he said, “that we should be shown to be the richest nation in the whole Asian and Pacific area, and yet we are so indifferent to the needs of our neighbours. New Zealand’s per capita productivity is £6OO per annum, and, apart from Australia, which is a little behind New Zealand, no other country in the area comes within a third of that figure. “We dare not forget,” he said, “that half the world’s population is on our doorstep in the form of four nations, China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia. These countries exist on a per capita productivity of £3O or about onetwentieth of that in New Zealand. Our own riches are cause for thanksgiving and satisfaction, but when the gap is so wide between neighbouring countries some drastic action is called for. “However much we may manipulate statistics, it still seems obvious that our overseas aid of about .2% of the national income is distressingly low. Last August the Rev. O. Robinson published an important document on behalf of a group of economists and the conclusion reached was that a massive increase in aid is well within the capacity of New Zealanders.

“On the other hand, the public had always responded with great generosity to appeals by private welfare organisations, and when the facts are known the Kiwi will usually rise to the occasion. This month the N.C.C. made its annual appeal arid set as a minimum goal £75,000 to be raised for overseas welfare programmes.” Mr O’Grady has just returned from overseas visits to refugee programmes and cited instance of the need. “How does one reply,” he asked, “when a person living in primitive conditions questions whether it is true that in New Zealand some people eat when they are not hungry?” “Incidents like this make the traveller return with considerable disquiet. Our affluence, peacefulness, beautiful scenery and general superabundance make our land seem a heaven compared to the hell of most of Asia’s ceaseless struggle with hunger.”