LEND-LEASE AID BY N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 6

LEND-LEASE AID BY N.Z.

American Troops EMPIRE SURVEY MADE

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, September 3

Details of the way the lend and lease system is working have been issued officially in Washington and published in London today in connexion with the announcement of an Anglo-American agreement on the subject.

Reciprocal lend and lease aid to the United -States is being provided on the same basis as the United States is providing help to other countries in order to pool all resources of the United Nations for the most effective use against the enemy. American troops abroad are receiving a wide range of equipment from other countries, that received from Australia equalling the aid to Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand headquarters of Vice-Admiral Ghormley’s command has been supplying the United States forces with the bulk of their foodstuffs, particularly meat, butter, cheese, bread, milk, fruit, and fresh vegetables. Vegetable production has been increased to meet the needs of the Ahierican forces.

For a time all cement supplies were reserved for defence work and a great part of the lumber supply was used for the same purpose.

Big Camps Built.

Big camps had' been specially built for American troops and marines, and two big hospitals are being established for them.

'Storage accommodation on a large scale has been constructed and aerodromes have been extended and improved. Naval base facilities have been considerably extended. The New Zealand railways and road transport system have been made available in the same way. The help received by America has ranged from Spitfires to new fanbelts for army trucks, the building of aerodromes and naval bases to supply food for troops, convoy protection, fuel, and many other services in Northern Ireland, Britain, Africa, the Middle East, India, Australia and New Zealand. The United States home defences have been strengthened with thousands of British barrage balloons, antiaircraft guns, and corvettes, and new-ly-invented devices for attack and defence have been made available. This help is supplied without the exchange of money, and lend-lease,' working lu both directions, is providing the principal means of pooling resources. As more troops move abroad, supplying them oh the spot saves time aud shipping. Most American troops travel abroad on British ships. The Shipping Adjustment Board is providing the shipping requirements for both countries. The output of British factories is “lend-lease” to American troops where this is required, and the R.A.F. aids in the final training of American airmen who handle British planes. A quarter of a million British workmen .are making aerodromes for the American Air Force iu Britain, and repairs and maintenance are provided for British equipment lent to' Americans. Tlie same is true around the world, in Cape Town, Port Sudan. Karachi, Bombay, Sydney, and Auckland. Exchange of Notes.

American warships damaged in action are repaired at British naval stations. Stores, docking, fuel, harbour, and stevedore expenses are “lendleased” to fighting ships and merchant ships. The Anglo-American lend-leaso agreement has been the subject of an exchange of notes between, the countries concerned, including New Zealand. The agreement provides for thft pooling of material resources, and the exchange of equipment, foodstuffs, transport facilities, bases, and maintenance services whore needed by thd forces of the United Nations. Provision is also made for the necessary financial exchanges, but the exchange under the lend and lease plan will keep this at a minimum. Each Government’ retains the right of final decision iu tlie light of its own potentialities aud responsibilities, but the decisions as to tlie most effective use of resources shall, as far as possible, bo made in common with the aim of winning tlie war. The extent of the exchange will be governed by tlie varying needs of the countries.

RECIPROCAL AID Mention In Wellington In a statement last evening the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan, said that in an exchange of notes, at the State Department, Washington, ou September 3 the New Zealand Minister to the United States, Mr. Nash, concluded an agreement confirming the arrangements for reciprocal aid between the United States and New Zealand. Mr. Sullivan said that the terms “lend-lease” and “reverse lend-lease” were becoming familiar words to New Zealand, and were n symbol of the united spirit between the nations fighting against aggression. Under an Act of Congress of March 11, 1041, the President of the United Slates was authorized to make supplies of war and essential materials available to the United Nations, and in return to receive similar aid from the other nations.

"The agreement now signed does not embark on any new procedure, but confirms the arrangements that have gradually been worked out over the past several months,” said Mr. Sullivan. "Its object is to ensure that supplies are drawn from the countries best able to furnish them witli a minimum wastage of shipping space. “From the United States there have been supplied to New Zealand, in furtherance of the common war effort, finished war materials, military equipment, munitions, military, and naval stores, and also raw materials and machinery essential for the common war effort and for the maintenance of essential civilian services. In only a few months New Zealand has afforded aid to the United States armed forces on a considerable scale.

Mr. Sullivan said that New Zealand would make the most determined effort to ensure that her contribution in goods, materials and service under reverse lease-lend was a worthy one. At the same time she acknowledged witli gratitude the splendid assistance received by way of leasc-lend from her American ally.