‘No apology’ in C.O.R.S.O. aid

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33253, 16 June 1973, Page 17

‘No apology’ in C.O.R.S.O. aid

C.0.R.5.0. brings help to people without discrimination on the grounds of politics, colour, or religion, but contributors can, however, specify how and where their money is to be used, says Mr R. A. Consedine, the organiser for C.0.R.5.0. in Christchurch.

Mr Consedine was replying!, to a letter to “The Press” by “Once Caught,” who complained that C.0.R.5.0. was t again going to give SIO,OOO I

ito relief projects in North [Vietnam. “To give encouragement and comfort, even in the form of medical supplies, to these aggressors after they caused a further one million South Vietnamese to be made homeless in the last year (figures from the “New Zealand Methodist”) is a gross misplacement of contributions. “It may be said that I may specify my contribution as “not for North Vietnam” but such specifying is meaningless, therefore, as far as 1 am concerned C.0.R.5.0. are going to get $lO less,” “Once[ i Caught" wrote. HALF EACH WAY Mr Consedine said in his reply that last year C.0.R.5.0. contributed $20,000 for medical supplies to Vietnamese refugees — $lO,OOO through Catholic Relief Services in Saigon, and $lO,OOO administered by the International Red Cross in the North. No further grants had been made to Indo-China. 'The criteria for aid in, emergency situations, he said. ; -were: was there a need; and ;were the channels to get the aid through to the people (reliable. C.0.R.5.0. would I send aid when it was absolutely certain on these twoi (counts. : . “The bringing of help the’ I best we can, without dis-1 [crimination, is, frankly and! ’without apology, the aim of C.0.R.5.0. Our appeal is on i this basis.” Most of the money from ,the 1973 house-to-house (appeal would be spent on development (self-help) projects in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. [ “Each appeal envelope contains the words—‘You may J designate the purpose for; ;which your contribution is toj ■be used.’ Provided this meets ! (our project criteria, the wishes of the donor are [strictly followed,” said Mr [Consedine.