POST-WAR RELIEF

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22514, 24 November 1944, Page 2

POST-WAR RELIEF

FUNCTIONS OF UNNRA NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE (By Teiegrapn.—rress Association, WELLINGTON, Friday The debate on Unrra was opened in the House of Representatives last night by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, on the second reading of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Bill. Mr Nash said Unrra was not a reconstruction body. Its purpose was to rehabilitate people in the countries which had been overrun by giving them food and clothing, establishing health, sanitary and other services, and assisting them to restart the cultivation of their lands. Long term reconstruction would be undertaken through the organisation set up at Bretton Woods. Mr Nash emphasised that Unrra could not enter a liberated country without the consent of the Government concerned. It was expected that between £750,000,000 and £800,000,000 (New Zealand currency) would be required by Unrra, and our share of £2,600,000 was on the basis of one per cent of our national income, the basis adopted in fixing the contributions of the contributing countries. Unrra wanted agricultural machinery from New Zealand, Mr Nash continued, and it was anticipated that we would supply other commodities. New Zealand was represented on the supplies committee, also on the Far East regional committee of Unrra, which would probably meet in Australia early next year. Mr Nash said we should go to the limit if necessary to find what was required to restore the health of the people in the devastated countries, including the British people. It was self-interest that we should back up Unrra. Unless the devastated countries could be restored to prosperity they would lack the purchasing power to buy our goods. Suspicion Mentioned

Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition— Tauranga) said that if China, India and Russia were included in the province of Unrra it would mean that half of mankind would be called upon to contribute to the restoration of the other half. Setting up organisations in the liberated countries would not be easy. Unrra had been the subject of some suspicion that it was being used to apply political pressure or that it would be used as a means of enforcing compliance with the Bretton Woods currency plans. Mr Doidge said there would be disappointment if New Zealand’s cooperation with Unrra were limited to the Far Eastern region. Every New Zealander would be glad if we could be given the task of co-operating in helping Greece, with whom we had an association which would never be broken.

Mr C. H. Chapman (Government — Wellington North) said that if we were to be successful in helping others we must establish a sound post-war economic position at home, because conditions such as arose after the last war if allowed to recur would prevent us from assisting anyone. The war was not yet over. Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition—Remuera) said that but the beginnings of the post-war period were here and the bill was the first stirrings of that period. The bill was a simple one. It asked New Zealand to vote £2,600,000 for relief of distress. We might have been asked for more. We certainly could not have been asked for less. The question was should this money be voted, and everyone in the country who took an intelligent interest in the scheme must answer yes.

Mr W. M. C. Denham (Government—lnvercargill) said he Relieved the United Nations could succeed in what they were undertaking. There had been great devastation in the stricken areas, but science and modem machinery could restore everything in a comparatively short time if the nations would get together and produce the materials needed.

The debate was continued on similar lines until the adjournment at 10.30 p.m.