C.O.R.S.O.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 61, 10 April 1946, Page 5

C.0.R.5.0.

PROVISIONAL LOCAL BRANCH THE NEED IS URGENT What is the meaning of C.0.R.5.0.? That was tne general query at a meeting of district organisations called yesterday by the local branch of the Red Cross Society. As everyone knows the starving millions in Europe is a problem causing world-wide concern, and C.Q.R.S.O. (The Council and Organisation for the Relief of Distress Overseas) represents the voluntary section of the U.N.R.R.A. These points were explained by Mrs W. Sullivan who had convened the meeting under instructions from Red Cross Headquarters.

Delegates present represented the Registered Nurses Association, Women’s Institute, W.D.F.U., Lady Galway Guild, Patriotic Zone, St. John Ambulance, 8.M.A., Girl Guides, Women’s War Service Auxiliary, Junior Red Cross and Boy Scouts. An apology was received from the Minister’s Association. Mrs W. Sullivan welcomed all delegates and expressed regret that members of local bodies were unable to attend. She outlined the ob-

jectives of C.0.R.5.0. explaining that its operations would be worked through the Red Cross organisation at official request, and added further that already the sum of between £6OOO and £7OOO had been guaranteed by the Red Cross to meet the cost of the first U.N.R.R.A. team which had already left these shores. New Zealand’s pledge to U.N.R.R.A. was originally £2,600,000 but this had since been doubled. The crying need now was for active individual assistance by the voluntary efforts .of all to relieve the unbeliable famine and living conditions in Europe today where it was authoritatively asserted that unless more assistance were given millions were doomed to perish. By unanimous vote it was decided to constitute all present a provisional C.0.R.5.0. branch, and further in order to allow of other organisations to take an active part, to convene a further meeting of all interested on Tuesday evening April 16. at 7.30 p.m. in the Borough Council Chambers, when a fully constituted and workable body could be built up. A provisional committee of three was set up to draw up a suitable working agenda to lay before the fuller meeting in order to provide it with suitable objectives for debate. The suggestions will include a tentative date for a Street Appeal, the creation of three working divisions for (a) finance, (b) clothing and (c) foodstuffs, and the appointment of a permanent executive and administrative group.