The Dominion WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1944. IN A GOOD-CAUSE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1944. IN A GOOD-CAUSE

At the conference held in Atlantic City last November the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (U.N.R.R.A.) clarified its financial proposals by deciding that the contribution of one per cent, of the national income should be made only by the uninvaded countries. That apparently will be the basis of whatever contribution New Zealand makes to this united effort to organize rehet for the peoples of the stricken nations. As the Relief Administration has proceeded to make important appointments, has asked for toe cooperation of the technical services of the League of Nations and other inter-Governmental agencies, and has taken other preliminary steps i now becomes the duty of the member-States to make whatever preparations are necessarv in order that they may each do their part. For that reason it ’can confidently be expected that the matter will come before Parliament in the coming session. ... When questioned on the subject the other day the Acting-Minister of Finance said that the Government was awaiting further details ot the decisions reached, and probably they include the basis for determining the national income. There has been no general agreement on the definition of what constitutes national income, not even in individual countries. Some statements, for instance, include the sum paid in pensions, while others exclude them as being simply transfers. Agreement as to what items should be included would be welcome. In a recent speech Mr. Menzies, a former Prime Minister of Australia, touched on the subject. He said: “The truth is that the national income, properly considered, is far more a sum of payments than it is a sum of true profits or receipts.” _ U.N.R.R.A., however, commences its humanitarian work with complete unanimity regarding its objectives and that will be a powerful factor in ensuring that every one of the United Nations will do its full share. When this Dominion’s commitments under the scheme have been definitely ascertained—the aggregates already mentioned range from £2,000,000 to f4,soo,ooo—then it will be necessary to decide how they are to be met. The basis adopted is that 10 per cent, of the total must be in a currency that will enable the Administration to buy foodstuffs or expend on relief wherever it decides, and the balance must be available for financing the purchase of foodstuffs and other goods within the country that provides the credits. That procedure will have certain definite effects upon our financial position. The cash payment of the 10 per cent, in sterling should not present any diffictflty, but the sale of things that, in the normal course, would have assisted to build up the essential overseas reserves, will have a limiting effect on our Overseas purchasing power. It will be for the Government to say how these transactions are to be brought into the Budget, if they are to be brought in at all. . But it is certain that the people of New Zealand will be strongly desirous of'doing what they can for the relief of the suffering millions of Europe and elsewhere. This great international effort constitutes something new, and from it may come important developments. The United Nations, and such neutral countries that care to assist, are preparing to feed clothe, house and provide medical attention for. the mil tons of people who have suffered. In that campaign, to bring renewed hope to those who have indeed passed through deep waters, the unity of the countries now allied to fight for freedom will be the best possible guarantee of success.