UNRRA OPERATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26631, 29 November 1947, Page 6

UNRRA OPERATIONS

DOMINION’S HELP ACTIVE REPRESENTATION TO CEASE P.A. WELLINGTON, Nov. 28. With the completion of the UNRRA supply programme and the reconciliation of accounts and other details, the New Zealand office of > UNRRA will close from November 30, and before the end of 1947 active representation of UNRRA in New Zealand will cease. This was announced by Mr F. H. P. Marwington, deputy director of UNRRA. *

UNRRA, he said, had provided the largest relief operation in history. It was the hope of the world and the aim of the United Nations that such an operation would never again be necessary. New Zealand’s active part in this major -United Nations undertaking was represented, in terms of money, by the contribution from the nation of an income of £5.200,000, the largest part of which had been expended in commodities ranging from ships, and livestock to canned eels and whale meat; by the sending of more than 100 suitably qualified New Zealanders to Europe and China; and in many other ways by services not readily recordable in terms of money or commodities. •Some idea of the ramifications of UNRRA activities in New Zealand could be gauged from the fact that the following were only some of the items procured, processed, packed and shipped to various warravaged recipient countries in Europe and the Far East:—Clothing, textiles and footwear (including raw wool), £3,500,000; agricultural rehabilitation equipment, £485,000; industrial rehabilitation equipment, £115,000; foodstuffs, £370,000; medical supplies, £35,000.

Whatever might be the criticisms levelled at UNRRA, the fact remained that a splendid job had been done, and special praise went to the 100 New Zealanders who had taken part in that job. New Zealand . could be proud of the part which she had played.

Whilst UNRRA’s operations were being wound up. steps were taken to ensure that the essential part of its work should be safeguarded. Successor organisations were being set up under the United Nations, such as the World Health Organisation, the International Children’s Emergency Fund, the International 'Refugees’ Organisation, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, all of which would be able to draw upon and benefit by the experiences of UNRRA.