UNRRA ASKS AGAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 3, 4 September 1945, Page 6

UNRRA ASKS AGAIN

ARTICLES FOR DISPLACED OR HOMELESS PEOPLE GREAT VARIETY OF NEEDS UNRRA lias .sent to New Zealand requests for more goods for dis-. tressed people in Europe and similar appeals are anticipated for China now that the coastal ports are open again. This time it is for relief supply kits for homeless or displaced soap and fat for soap t seeds., radio sets with pickups anjd wool for spinning at home. Intimation that these things are needed has been received by the New Zealand Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas (Corso) which co-ordinates the Avork of voluntary societies assisting UNRIRA in New anld the message has been conveyed to CORSO's constituent societies including nearly all the large philanthropic and social service organisations of the Domin-

ionWhile UNRRA obtains its supplies ol bulk goods from New Zealand through the it can obtain many things quickly enough for them to be of use only by direct appeal to the people. The drive for second-hand clothes was the first attempt to make goods available for the distressed people of Europe quicker than they could be obtained from the factories of the world. The latest requests have been mc.de withi the same idea.

The relief supply kits for homeless or displaced persons correspond somewhat to the comforts parcels which have been provided for New Zealand soldiers by the patriotic committees. Each kit will contain a comb ) plate, cup knife soap } toothbrush dentifrice, hard candy or chocolatc if obtainable ) pencil writing paper, and an 18 inch square of cloth. Toilet articles required only by men will lie added to men's, par,~ cels and articles required only by women to women's parcels. If 'desired there may be added articles for repairing clothes ? first aid material, insecticide, tin opener or corkscrew. Each kit is to be packed in a cardboarld box and the hoxes packed in cases. CORSO is suggesting that the local societies co-oper r ate in making up the kits. The necessity for some of the articles which are to be packed in the kits; is illustrated by reports which have been received of such situations in Europe as a school of 500 children without a single pencil and of people with UNRRA registration cards but no pen and ink with which to fill them in.

I Fat For Soap Making Though Europe is desperately short of fats it is said that there £jre farms in New Zealand where fat is. destroyed because the quantities are too small for the buyers to collect them. UNRRA will welcome gifts of soap and fat suitable for soap-making. It is suggested that the soap be in square tins which are more economical of shipping space than round tins. It is asked that the fat be in 4 r gallon or 5gallon tins or casks.. Enough soap j could put an end to the spread of scabies in Europe and the Far East. This is the view expressed in an UNIRRA Epidemiological Information which adds that scabies has increased 75 fold in Amsterdam, once known as one of the cleanest cities in the world; 10 fold in Paris and seven fold in Norway. Scabies is by a tiny mite. Nearly 100 per cent of the. refugees in the Chinese province of Kewi.v how were found infested and 85 per cent of the refugees in the Italian province of Abruzzi.

The seeds Avhich are wanted are vegetable seeds ? the germination percentage of which is known.

The request for radio receivers with pickups came to UNRRA from the Allied Control formerly SIIAEF. They are wanted for the education and entertainment of displaced persons in camps in Europe. New sets, arc not yet available from the factories, but it is Relieved that with the coming of the war to an' end, there may be service clubs and recreation halls containing such equipment which will not be needed any longer.

Wool for spinning at home by Europeans lias been nskect for prtv

viously but not much lias been obtained yet because the request lias been made at a season when ail New Zealand wool has been sent to store. Now permission has been given for wool to be released f rom stores for overseas reliel. Donations of money are being accepted with which to purchase wool for shipping to Europe for this purpose. The Red Cross Society is going to defray the cost of a considerable number of bales and other societies expect to pay for single bales.