Practically Every New Zealander Now Linked With CORSO

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 13, 16 January 1948, Page 2

Practically Every New Zealander Now Linked With CORSO

“Practically every New Zealander is now linked through some organisation with CORSO,” stated the chairman, Mr R. M. Campbell, last week in Wellington at the annual meeting of*the Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas (CORSO). Mr Campbell was welcoming into the 30 N.Z. organisations that are linked in CORSO newly - attending representatives from the N.Z. Chinese Association, the Educational Institute, the Federation of Labour, the Associated Chambers of Copamerce, the Federation of Co-operatives and the United Nations Association.

During the year CORSO received some £28,000 in donations and through public appeals. It retains four relief workers in Greece, out of the 24 sent 2 years ago, and, has sent 20, mainly medical to China during 1947, to be maintained for two years. Four more will leave shortly. With general increase in living costs their allotment has been raised from 11/6 per day to 13/6. CORSO has sent during 1947 888 cases of relief supplies to Greece and 1,061 cases to China and has a further 600 cases ready to leave, including 28,000 pairs of shoes to be distributed by the World Council of Churches in Europe. Two-thirds of CORSO supplies sent’to Greece were distributed through the Greek Red Cross Society. Of those to China a third have gone to Rewi Alley and the Village Co-operatives, a sixth to needy civilians and hospitals in the Communist area, and the remainder mainly for use by or distribution through missions. Three-quarters of all supplies sent were clothing and footwear and the remainder mainly medical goods, indludflng concentrated foodstuffs*

“We could wish, 2\ years after the war’s end, that our work was finished,” stated the Vice-Chairman, Mr C. S. Falconer, “but reports from abroad, unfortunately, indicate that it will be needed for several years yet. To the local committees throughout New Zealand whose efforts make our work possible, we cannot give enough praise and thanks.”