N.Z. drive to send food to East Africa

Press, 13 March 1985, Page 2

N.Z. drive to send food to East Africa

PA Wellington New Zealand will send a shipload of relief supplies to African famine victims and contribute a further $1 million to international relief agencies, the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said yesterday.

The Union Company’s 4548 ton Ngahere will take supplies to Port Sudan in southern Sudan so that New Zealand aid can reach those who need it most — the refugees and displaced people in northern Ethiopia and southern Sudan, Mr Lange told a gathering at the Beehive.

The ship was in Dunedin and “ready to go,” he said.

The chairman of United Wheat Growers, Mr Ness Wright, said they were pleased to support the Prime Minister’s campaign and planned to send 2000 tonnes of wheat in the Ngahere. “All wheatgrowers will be written to seeking a contribution to the cause. This would be collected by wheat growers agreeing to a deduction from their 1985 harvest payout of the amount they agree to give,” Mr Wright said. Mr Lange said that the Ngahere had been generously provided by the Union Company at a minimum charter rate and was manned by a New Zealand crew who volunteered their labour free of charge. “It was, in fact, this offer from the unions that provided the spark for the

whole venture,” said Mr Lange. Mr Lange said the Government had decided, as a gesture of faith, to provide $270,000 to cover the cost of chartering the ship. The Union Company had offered to provision the crew throughout the voyage, he said. “The co-ordinating committee set up to see the project through has asked the oil companies to help out on fuel. It has explored with the Wheat and Dairy Boards how they can help with grain, milk powder and butter oil, all of which are desperately needed in huge quantities in Ethiopia and Sudan.”

Mr Lange said he knew the oil companies and producer boards would not let the project down. He said the banking community were underwriting the fund raising campaign and from next Monday would act as collecting agents for contributions. “The target is at least 51.25 million,” he said. “We hope more can be raised, but it must be raised quickly.” The Ngahere will sail whether or not the target for public contributions is reached, but her provisioning will depend on the amount of money given. Last year the Government contributed $1.5 million to the relief programmes of several United Nations agencies in Africa and to voluntary agencies in this country active in drought-relief work.