N.Z. GIFT TO GREECE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 2 October 1944, Page 5

N.Z. GIFT TO GREECE

SUBSTANTIAL SHIPMENT OF FOODSTUFFS Wellington, This Day. An annoupcement that arrangements had been completed for the dispatch to the Middle East of a substantial shipment of foodstuffs as a gift to the people of Greece from the Government and people of New Zealand immediately the territory is freed from enemy occupation, was made by the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, last night. “These arrangements represent the fulfilment of the intention which the Government has long had in mind to make some special gesture to a nation which has suffered so cruelly under the scourge of the Nazi oppressor,” said Mr Fraser. “I feel sure that it will have the whole-hearted support and goodwill of every citizen of the Dominion. We in this country are bound by special ties to the people of Greece with whose forces our own men fought side by side against overwhelming odds in the dark days of 1941 and are once again united, but under very different circumstances, in the fighting in Italy. Now that the tide has turned it is appropriate that we should remember with admiration the courage and forti - tude with which the Greek people have borne their trials during the past few years, and at the same time recall the friendship and help which they extended to our men throughout the whole of the Greek campaign. “The fullest co-operation in the matter of shipping has been extended by the United Kingdom authorities, and the foodstuffs will be among the first relief supplies to reach Greece following her liberation. As a result of my discussions with the UNRRA authorities and the Allied Military Liaison in the Middle East a procedure has been devised to ensure that the goods, which have been appropriately marked to indicate their origin and purpose, will be distributed to cases of special need.”