FUNDS FOR UNRRA

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 149, 21 December 1945, Page 4

FUNDS FOR UNRRA

A FURTHER APPEAL

NEED TO PLAN AHEAD

Making a further and urgent appeal for tunds, Lieut.-Commander Harold W. Larsen, Avho was recently appointed UNRRA representative in New Zealand, stated on his arrival in Wellington yesterday that UNRRA would come to a complete stop about March, 1946. having spent all its resources, and its continued existence depended upon the will to co-operate of the United Nations, whose agent UNRRA was. "In practical terms," said Lieut.Commander Larsen, "this means that the member nations of UNRRA must decide whether they desire to make a second contribution of 1 per cent. Should this be made, UNRRA will be able to operate during 1946. "By resolution of the UNRRA Council, UNRRA will in any event cease operations in Europe in December, 1946, and in the Far East in March, 1947. It is not intended that relief and rehabilitation should be earned through till it becomes reconstruction, which is a matter for individual nations. At a council conference held in London in August this year UNRRA delegates carried a resolution to recommend their Governments to make a second contribution. So far only Britain has given a definite indication of intention.

"In the expectation that the contribution will be made, UNRRA must plan ahead accordingly, and failure so to do would mean that relief would not be ready at the time and places it would be needed as soon as the resources became available. OFFICE IN WELLINGTON. "I have come to Wellington to open and conduct a New Zealand office for the South-west Pacific Area Office of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, which is located in Sydney. "The New Zealand office will maintain a liaison with the New Zealand Government, arrange for procurement of relief and rehabilitation supplies in New Zealand, make arrangements for co-operation with voluntary relief agencies, and assist in the recruiting of New Zealand personnel for service overseas with UNRRA. "New Zealand has already made an original contribution of £2,600,000 to UNRRA, and about 90 per cent. Of this is to be given in the form of New Zealand goods. UNRRA has already received quantities of raw wool, clothing, footwear, vegetable seeds, and some foodstuffs. Considerable numbers of simple agricultural implements for China are on order, and fishing craft, more seeds and /textiles, and livestock are being sought. "About 20 New Zealanders already serving with UNRRA overseas are doing particularly well and many are earning high reputations for themselves. UNRRA is' seeking several more, particularly medical, engineering, and agricultural experts, for service in China. In addition, the recent New Zealand voluntary clothing collection exceeded its target by just under, 50 per cent." I