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8. UNRRA The fourth session of the Council of UNRRA was. held at Atlantic City from. 15th to 20th March, 1946, and an adjourned meeting was held at Washington on 9th May, 1946. The fifth session met in Geneva from sth to 16th August, 1946, and the sixth session in Washington from 10th to 13th December, 1946. The New Zealand delegation to the fourth session was led by Sir Carl Berendsen, and to the fifth session by Dr. R. M. Campbell. Sir Carl Berendsen was appointed to lead the delegation at the sixth session, but was prevented from so doing by the pressure of his duties at the General Assembly of the United Nations ; Mr. J. S. Reid acted as his alternate. At each session the New Zealand delegation occupied official positions —e.g., at the fourth session Sir Carl Berendsen was Chairman of the Committee on Policy. New Zealand is also represented on the Committee of Supplies, one of the most important Standing Committees of UNRRA. Separate reports on the fourth, fifth, and sixth sessions of the Council have been, or will be, presented. Many tributes were paid to the generous support that New Zealand has throughout given to UNRRA. It is pleasing also to record that New Zealanders have occupied with distinction many important posts in UNRRA. It has been the duty of the Council at each of these sessions to review the work of UNRRA and to determine its policy. The Council has accordingly given consideration, inter alia, to the procurement, allocation, and distribution of food and other supplies ; to activities in the field of health services—epidemiological intelligence, medical and sanitary services, and technical advice and assistance to devastated countries ; to welfare services—care of children, disabled persons, and others ; and to a wide range of technical services. The problem of displaced persons has caused considerable discussion, with the countries of origin laying stress on repatriation and the majority, including New Zealand, insisting that there must be no compulsion or undue pressure on displaced persons to return to their former countries. Throughout these sessions the Council has had in mind the situation that will arise on the termination of UNRRA's activities. Many aspects of the situation have been placed before United Nations, and arrangements have been made to ensure that the benefits of UNRRA's work are not lost —the International Refugee Organization is intended to deal with the remaining refugee and displaced persons problem, the International Children's Emergency Fund with the supplementary feeding and care of children and adolescents, the Food and Agriculture Organization with the restoration of agriculture. . . At these sessions of the Council many tributes were paid by receiving and donor countries to the very considerable achievements of UNRRA under most difficult conditions —e.g., in the six months preceding the fourth session, 7,000,000 tons of supplies were shipped and 725,000 displaced persons repatriated. Particular tributes were paid to Governor Lehman, whose resignation as DirectorGeneral was accepted at the fourth session, and to his successor, Mr. F. H. La Guardia, whose resignation was accepted at the sixth session. General Lowell W. Rooks is now Director-General. 9. Inter-governmental Committee cn Refugees In July, 1938, a Conference, called on the initiative of President Roosevelt, agreed to establish'the Inter-governmental Committee on Refugees, with jurisdiction limited to persons of German or Austrian origin. In April, 1943, it was agreed that the mandate of the Committee should be extended. The functions of the IGC are " to preserve, maintain, and transport persons who, as a result of events in Europe, have had to leave or may have to leave their countries of residence of the danger to their lives or on account of their race, religion, or political beliefs." IGC has concerned itself mainly with the collection of information relevant to emigration and resettlement, discussions with potential countries of reception with a view to individual emigration or group settlement, assistance to and arrangement of emigration of individuals and family units, and group resettlement.

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