UNRRA OPERATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 8

UNRRA OPERATIONS

COMPLETE STOPPAGE THREATENED MEMBER NATIONS' RESPONSIBILITY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. “ Unrra will come- to a complete stop about March, 1946, having spent all its resources, and its continued existence depends upon the will to cooperate of the United Nations, whose agent Unrra is.” said Lieutenant-com-mander Harold W. Larsen, who has recently been appointed Unrra representative in New Zealand. Lieutenantcommander Larsen arrived at Wellington yesterday, and was received by tho Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash. “ In practical terms,” said Lieuten-ant-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 tho Par East in March, 1947. . It is not intended that relief and rehabilitation should be carried through till they become reconstruction, which is a matter for the individual nations. “ At the council conference held in London in August, Unrra delegates carried a resolution to recommend their governments to make a second contribution. So far only Britain has given a. definite indication of its intention,” continued Lieutenant-commander Larsen. “In the expectation that the contribution will be made, JUnrra must plan ahead accordingly. 'Failure to do so would mean that the relief would not be ready at the time and places it would be needed.” Lieutenant-commander Larsen added that he had come to Wellington to open and conduct a New Zealand office for the South-west Pacific area office Unrra, which was located in Sydney.