“Human Rights Year A Farce In N.Z.”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31761, 19 August 1968, Page 18

“Human Rights Year A Farce In N.Z.”

The International Year of Human Rights was something of a farce in New Zealand, the assistant general secretary of the National Council of Churches (the Rev. R. M. O’Grady), said at the council’s annual conference in Christchurch on Saturday.

“Almost two-thirds of the year has gone and there has not been one significant contribution made towards the year from New Zealand,” Mr O’Grady said. “Only Government and inter-government action have any worth-while effect in overseas aid,” said the Rev. H. C. Dixon, general secretary of C.0.R.5.0.

“Each day, the flow of international aid is drying up, or is getting tied to trade, or is given in the form of loans. This is mostly our fault as we have failed to build up a climate of public opinion that demands the giving by Government of overseas aid.

“I feel it is the responsibility of the churches and other such bodies to ensure that provision is made in the national budget for greater free overseas aid,” Mr Dixon said. The Rev. H. C. Buckle said

that in 1966, New Zealanders gave 80c a head in overseas aid. “However this aid only gives each starving Asian about one-third of a cent a year,” said Mr Buckle.

The council decided to send a telegram to the Prime Minister asking that diplomatic pressure be exerted on both belligerents in the Nigerian crisis to open channels to permit relief aid to be taken to stricken areas. It was also decided to ask the Government to urge friendly Western nations to take steps to cut off the transport of arms supplies to either side of the conflict in favour of relief supplies. Concern was expressed at the confusion surrounding the eligibility of Maoris to tour to South Africa with the All Blacks in 1970. A special commission was set up to examine the question and to report to the executive of the council.