UNRRA BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1944, Page 4

UNRRA BILL

COST OF £2,600,000

INTRODUCTION IN HOUSE

The payment of £3,600,000 towards le relief of the peoples of distressed >untries is provided for in the United ations Relief and Rehabilitation Adlinistration Bill, which was introduced i the House rof Representatives yessrday afternoon by the Minister of inance (Mr. Nash) and read a' first me. It was explained that that sum 1 per cent, of the Domin>n's national income of £260,000,000, le basis agreed upon in Atlantic City l 1943; 10 per cent, was payable in ash and the balance in goods. > Mr. Nash said that the £2,600,000 rould be paid as required out of the /ar Expenses Account and was for period of one year. It was likely, i the relief period lasted longer, that le Dominion might be asked for more, ut up to now there had been no talk f any more than that sum. New Zealand's contribution was asassed on the basis of 1 per cent, of le national income. Australia had lready submitted its Bill for 1 12,000,000, Britain's contribution was, c thought. £80,000,000, and America, d far, had approved something like 00,000,000 dollars, portion of which' fas under lend-lease and the balance direct vote. The agreement signed at Atlantic !ity was contained in a schedule to tie Bill, and the agreement had to be atified by all the Parliaments conerned before it became operative. The bject was to help all those countries /hich had been invaded- and which tad suffered through the war. The Administration would have a entral executive committee, consistng of representatives of China, Soviet lussia, the United States, and the Jritish Commonwealth, and there fould be a European Committee' and Far Eastern Committee. The Euroiean Committee would be controlled, in he main, from Europe, and the Far Eastern Committee from Chungking or ome other centre, with perhaps a [epot in Australia and possibly New 'ealand. The Bill is retrospective to Decemier 1, 1943, and consists of only three lauses.