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Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1932, Page 4

The Department of External Affairs has received advice that the International Relief Union, an organisation formed under the jurisdiction of the League of Nations, will officially come into existence on December 2/. The object of th e . union, about which a question was recently ashed in tie House of Representatives, is to give assistance to any of the nations which com,ori«e its membership in the event of a disaster such as flood of earthquake. The formation of such an international union was originally suggested about ten years ago bv an Italian named Oa.raolo. The League of Nations adopted liis plan and chew, up a convention, which was considered at a special conference at Geneva in July, 1927. The Convention was signed by a number of Powers, and New Zealand 1 acceded to it in November, 1928. The object* of the union n,s set out in the Convention are: “Tn the event of any disaster due to force majeure, the exceptional gravity of which exceeds the limits of the , powers and resources of the str r - - people, to furnish to the suffering population first, aid and to assemble for this .uurnose funds, resources, anil assist-nee of all kinds. Tn the event of anv public disaster to co-ordinate pbo efforts made bv relief organisations and in a general way do encourage the st-ily r-t preventive measures against disasters and to induce all pen piles t>' : ender un.'ual international assistance.’’ Each of the nations signing the agreement was required 4o contribute to the ostnbßlimt,nt of an initial fund cf the. union b v subscribing a number of shares, anch of 700 Swiss francs, muni <-o number of units of its contribution to the League, of Nation*. New Zealand therefore takes ten shares, reinventing an nnior-t of some £270. One f,hi,s initial fend is established the union has to depend upon voluntary grants made by Governments, private contributions, and ,'one.tions, and le-

quests. In view of the present condition of national and international limmces, it is considered uulikcy t .at the union will have, any considerable funds at its disposal for some time to come, and that its work in the meantime will he severely restricted. The union was not to come into force until ratifications or accessions had been deposited' in the names of at least 12 nations and until 600 shares had been subscribed. Although many more than 12 States have joined, until recently their combined contributions have not amounted to this number of share*. The Department of External Affairs, however, has received advice from the League of Nations tha.‘ with the accession of Persia, the 27th. nation to join, the shares subscribed now exceed 6CO, and that the Convention will accordingly come Mo force on December 27, The New Zealand Government will now he required to forward its contribution to Geneva.