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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume I

45 — The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand

45
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand

6 October 1939

With reference to your telegram of 26 September (No. 43). The policy in relation to the equipment of the contemplated New Zealand page 38 Expeditionary Force has been considered by the Army Council,1 who agree that in the circumstances it would be undesirable to despatch with the force the mechanical transport and other equipment referred to in your telegram. The New Zealand Chief of the General Staff is being informed of the equipment which it is suggested should be sent.

It will be appreciated that in view of the numerous calls on military equipment provided by the United Kingdom, it will not be possible to supply much, if any, equipment from the United Kingdom for the force while it remains in New Zealand, and it will therefore be necessary to rely upon existing [equipment?] for training during that period. The Army Council will, however, do their utmost to provide adequate equipment for the further training of each New Zealand contingent at its point of arrival overseas. It will be the Council's aim to complete the equipment of the whole formation by the date when the three contingents proposed have finished their training and are able to take the field in formation.

1 The control of the British Army is vested in the Army Council. The Secretary of State for War is its President. The Army members are the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the Adjutant-General to the Forces, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces, the vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and the deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff.