Shortage of V.S.A. recruits

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33413, 20 December 1973, Page 12

Shortage of V.S.A. recruits

The New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad scheme has been unable to attract enough volunteers to serve in South - East Asia and the Pacific next year.

A spokesman for the scheme said that several requests from the recipient countries remained unfilled because V.S.A. could find no suitable volunteers. Volunteers were particularly needed for the trades, teaching, engineering and building, he said. Ten volunteers from Canterbury and the West Coast are among 50 people who have been selected by Volunteer Service Abroad to work in the Pacific and SouthEast Asia next year. They are Messrs P. Cooper, N. Withell. M. Palmer, his

I wife, Mrs Palmer, and Miss D. Cranko, of Christchurch; 'Mr C. Dyer of Rangiora: Mr iR. Miller of Timaru; Miss K. ;McKay and Mr C. Campbell, |of Ashburton; and Miss K. Blanchfield, of Greymouth. Miss Blanchfield, who has jbeen training at Christchurch : Teachers’ College, will teach [at St Mary’s High School, iTonga, and Mr Miller, a forester, will work at ■ College, Tonga. Mr Palmer! I will teach technical subjects,! and his wife will take kinder-! jgarten in Tonga. i Mr Dyer, an electrician, I 'will work in the Public Works i Department at Apia in Western Samoa. - Two of the other volunteers ■from Canterbury will work; in Tonga and two in the Brit- i ish Solomon Islands. The) other will join Mr Dyer ini Western Samoa. V.S.A. was formed in 1962' to foster mutual friendship,; co-operation and understanding between the peoples of the Pacific islands and SouthEast Asia by recruiting, training, placing and supporting New Zealand volunteers in these countries. All but seven of the volunteers posted by the V.S.A. Ithis year are adults — the ; others are school leavers. Adults usually serve for two ; years, receiving local food iand accommodation and a small sum a month for liv-j ing expenses and clothing. 1

There is also a reestablishment grant available I when they return home.