Corso appeal after fire

Press, 13 December 1985, Page 26

Corso appeal after fire

Corso, the aid organisation, has launched an appeal among its supporters to raise money to replace goods damaged in an arson attack on its Dunedin office.

Some members believe that a person with a grudge against the organisation was responsible for the attack, although the Dunedin police say the fire was started by burglars. The fire, which started early on Sunday morning,

badly damaged offices in a Moray Place building owned by Corso. Damage to the building, which was insured, was estimated about $25,000. Books, magazines, and other educational resources also valued about $25,000 were destroyed. The national chairman of Corso, the Rev. Don Borrie, said that he was appalled by the arson attack. The building housed a number of organisations,

but three Corso offices were the only part of the building damaged. The chairman of Corso in Christchurch, Mr Rob Finlay, said that various branches of the organisation received threats at times. He felt that this was because of the stand that Corso took on issues, such as support of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill and also for Maori activists who wanted to stop Waitangi Day celebrations.