POINTS CLARIFIED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26773, 17 May 1948, Page 4

POINTS CLARIFIED

CHILDREN’S APPEAL QUESTIONS IN PUBUC MIND INFORMATIVE DISCUSSION P.A- WELLINGTON, May 16. Questions which have presented themselves in the public mind since the opening of the appeal for the United Nations Fund for Children were 'put by Major-general h‘. K. Kippenberger to the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, in a radio discussion to-night and answered by Mr Nash. Summarised, the points made by Mr Nash in his answers were that the money made available for the fund will be used in the main to purchase supplies within New Zealand. The effort would not interfere with the Aid for Britain campaign, as the food could be got away. Mr Nash said that the countries to which the supplies would go must themselves provide vegetables to supplement the food sent to them. There would be no discrimination. on the grounds of race or beliefs. He thought some preference might be given to countries which had been the victims of aggression, but that was not the limit. Later, aid would probably be given to South-east Asian countries, and plans were being prepared. Call for Personal Sacrifice Mr Nasi} asked the people to make some personal sacrifice by reducing their own consumption a little, so that more food would be available where most needed. What funds could not be spent here would be converted Into sterling, and where the goods wanted were they would be bought. It was hoped to raise at least £500,000 in New Zealand. The committee was already committed to expenditure on 25,000,000 capsules of fish liver oil, which was one of the best protectives against tuberculosis, and evaporated milk would also be among the purchases. It had been arranged with Britain, without interfering with her needs, to supply tinned milk. There would be no interference with the Aid for Britain Fund. All people would be disturbed if this were the case, but he did not think any child in Britain would go short as a result of the activities of the children’s fund. New Zealand was sending all her exportable butter, cheese and meat to Britain, and the headquarters of the fund accepted that position, but had asked if whale meat could be sent. Britain did not want whale meat, and consideration had been given here to purchasing some for the purposes of the fund.

There would be some difficulty about shipping, but not much because in the main what supplies would be sent would not require refrigerated space, which was short. There was an arrangement with Britain that she send ships for all the food New Zealand could supply. 1 There would be other space than refrigerated available on such ships. Nothing had convinced the committee or the Government that all the supplies which could be purchased here could not be got away. What had to be bought elsewhere would be prudently managed, and the supplies themselves would reach the children who needed them. Need for Greater Production They could get a little more help in the spirit of the fund to the extent that people produced more goods and food. By producing more they would be doing what was best for Britain, for the children in needy circumstances and for themselves. Unless healthy children were built up everywhere, then a menace would arise later. They wanted children of other races to be strong and individualised. Mr Nash said he was sure that if the people realised the importance of this to the future of the world they would get behind the appeal. The personnel of the United Nations staff at Lake Success. New York, would see that the fund was wisely administered/ Mr Nash said that all the money collected would go to the fund. None would be used for the- expenses of the campaign in New Zealand. Parliament had granted a sum to cover this cost. . The children required food, clothing, medical care, education, and institutional treatment. Their needs were unlimited, but food was the top priority. The children must be kept alive and protected against starvation and malnutrition, but there were other needs which must be attended if there was sufficient money. Some children were dying of cold because of the lack of clothing. An appeal had been made to Governments. and as a result of monej made available by them from UNRR/ and other sources a start was mad< last year. Four million children wen getting a supplementary meal daily. The executive board controlling the fund comprised representatives of 26 nations which considered applications for assistance. The applicant coun-< tries had to give 'detailed plans of their requirements. The policy was that food supplied was to he used as far as possible for group feeding. There was a representative of the fund in countries which were assisted to maintain contact with the Government concerned and see that the relief was given in the way laid down by the fund’s policy. Major-general Kippenberger said at the conclusion that he was satisfied with what the Minister had said, and he felt that everyone who had heard the answers would be, too. On the night of the opening of the battle of El Alamein, when the New Zealand infantrv was going forward, he was with Sir Bernard Freyberg watching them. Sir Bernard had remarked then. ‘‘lf ever there was a just cause . . It seemed to him, said Major-general Kippenberger, that the same applied to the fund to aid children. The purpose was the same—the duty to defeat the powers of evil and make a future for the children. That, after all, was what they had fought for.