Second C.O.R.S.O. Appeal For India

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 8

Second C.O.R.S.O. Appeal For India

A second appeal for Indian famine relief by C.0.R.5.0. will be made throughout New Zealand during March, the organiser for the Can terbury-West Coast area (Mr G. H. Coley) said yesterday.

The national appeal target will be £50,000, of which it is hoped that the CanterburyWest Coast area will provide £12,500. The appeal is being made after a visit to India by the national secretary of C.0.R.5.0. (the Rev. H. C. Dixon), who returned “deeply troubled" by the deteriorating situation, Mr Coley said. Lives Saved According to Mr Dixon, the £82,000 raised in New Zealand last year has been spent saving many thousands of lives. The failure of the monsoon last year, however, has brought more severe hardship to a country already struggling with a very difficult situation. In some areas the monsoon failed for the second year in succession, and other areas were devastated by floods. The net result has been that food production is expected to total 73 million tons, which is 20 million tons short of what is needed. In addition to the food shortage, the shortage of water for drinking for both humans and animals is al-

most as serious, Mr Dixon said. Many major rivers are dry. The rains in December did something to alleviate the situation, but it is still very bad, he reported. Churches Co-operate “The famine situation will continue at least until next November. If the rainfall is normal, then the rice crops will be harvested.” The new appeal will last a fortnight, starting at different times of the month in various areas. It is being made with the co-operation of a number of churches who are distributing “penny-a-meal” boxes. Funds from the New Zealand appeal will be used to buy milk powder for those urgently requiring protein, and to sink wells to overcome the present drastic water shortage, Mr Coley said. THE PRACTICAL APPROACH TO SELLING OR BUYING WITH SATISFYING RESULTS IS THROUGH CLASSIFIEDS "THE PRESS" “THE PRESS" CARRIES YOUR MESSAGE EARLY TO MORE THAN 70.000 FAMILIES IN CITY. SUBURBS AND COUNTRY.