TO HELP GREECE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 1 December 1945, Page 3

TO HELP GREECE

RELIEF TEAMS FROM NEW ZEALAND MR FRASER AND MR HOLLAND APPEAL FOR FUNDS A public appeal for funds to send teams of relief workers to Greece from New Zealand haibeen launched throughout the Dominion by CORSO (Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas), and statements in support of the appeal have been made by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland).

CORSO represents more than 20 societies, humanitarian agencies and relief organisations throughout New Zealand, such as the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild, the New Zealand Red Cross Society and the National Council of Churches, and all have active preparations in hand for the appeal. During the war no society ha s been able to appeal publicly for money for relief, all such collections being made by the National Patriotic Fund Board. Now, however, the Government has granted permission to CORSO to make a direct anneal, the immediate objective of which is to send skilled workers to assist UNRRA in Greece, where teams of volunteers from the U.S. and from other parts of th e Empire are alreadv working. Contributions to the anneal may be posted to ’‘Greek Relief,” Wellington, C. 1., or they may be handed in at any local Red Cross Depot.

PRIME MINISTER’S COMMENDATION

“In November 1944, Parliament approved unanimously of a contribution of 1 per cent, of our national income towards the expenses of UNRRA,” said the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. P. Fraser. “In addition, assistance has been given in the provision of personnel for the paid staff of UNRRA, and, as well, in the release of suitable volunteer personnel who will help to make the work of UNRRA more effective. New Zealand has already made available a number of competent people as members of the permanent staff of the Administration. At th e present time one of them is Director of Supply and Transport for the whole of UNRRA operations in Germany; another is his Chief Transport Officer. In addition, very favourable reports have been received of the work which is being done by the New Zealand doctors and nurses who are employed on UNRRA duties in Europe. Other appointees are en route to China. “In addition to its own paid staff, the Administration, as part of its policy, aims to use qualified volunteer workers to the maximum extent. At this moment there is a particular need for volunteer workers in Greece and UNRRA have asked New Zealand whether three teams could be provided to proceed ther e as soon as possible. Thes e teams will work under the supervision of UNRRA and cost of their transport and upkeep in the field will be met*by UNRRA : Other expenses, such as living allowances for the members of the teams and the maintenance of their dependants, and the responsibility of the sponsoring agency (CORSO) and the purpose of the appeal now being launched by CORSO is to secure funds to enable these expenses to be met. New Zealand teams will work with others already in the field and drawn from many Allied countries. “Recent statements by world leaders have made clear how great a part of Europe is on the bring of chaos and starvation as a direct result of the war. The winter on which Europe is now entering is the testing time and if the people of devastated countries are to survive, it is essential that thp maximum possible assistance should be given immediately. “Greece, in particular, is still in urgent need of relief. Since 1942 the heroic Greeks, who refused to submit to the Axis at th e height of its power, % nave endured disease, near starvation and disruption of their national life. We, in New Zealand, now have a further onDortunity to play a direct part in helping Greece, with whose people we have special bonds of friendship. It is an opportunity to repay something of the debt of gratitude which we owe to that gallant country for assistance which the Greek people have given to so many of our men. Th e men of the Second Division have very warm memories of the way in which many of them were fed and sheltered and aided in escape by Greek people, very often at the risk of their own lives.

“I therefore warmly commend to the people of New Zealand this present appeal for funds by CORSO. I am sure it will meet with that same generous response that has been given by th e people of New Zealand to other appeals that have been made during the period of the war.”

MR HOLLAND SUPPORTS APPEAL

“I am very glad,” said Mr S. G. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, “to associate myself with this appeal for money to meet part of the cost of sending relief teams to assist the people of Greece who are suffering so bitterly from the aftermath of war. We in New Zealand have escaped so lightly by comparison that this fact in itself should make us all the more ready to respond to this appeal. But in addition there are the very close ties which New Zealand has with Greece. Our men have fought and died there; and some ot them owe their lives to Greeks who helped them in their hour of peril. It would therefore be singularly appropriate if we now made some slight sacrifices to assist our allies in rehabilitating themselves and their devastated country. It is, indeed, the very least w e can do. There should be no need for me to emphasise the appalling need. Th e British Foreign Secretary’s recent description of Europe to-day—desperately short of food, fuel, and clothes, with millions lacking homes and shelter, threatened by pestilence, and with winter almost at hand— must disturb th P conscience of us all. Governments can do something, working officially through UNRRA to supply goods and some administrative services. But Governments cannot do everything. There is a field in which th e work of voluntary agencies is specially valuable, and it is clear the gi eatest servicp which we can now render to Greece at this critical period, additional to what UNRRA is already doing, i s to send these New ?rvi an< * re^e * teams organised by CORSO to repair and save that greatest of all assets—human lives.”