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The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

Your telegram of 27 May (No. 273).

It is recognised that the requirements of New Zealand's forces overseas and of her essential industry at home must have first call on her available manpower resources, and the necessity for the ultimate disbandment of specialised non-divisional units in the Middle East is therefore fully understood. Having in view, however, the increasing use of technical plant, the high standard of technical training of the units concerned, and the shortage of similar units in the Middle East for forthcoming operations, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom would be grateful if it could be found possible to postpone the disbandment of the 21st Mechanical Equipment Company for as long as possible, and of the 19th Army Troops Company for three months at least.