LEND-LEASE TO U.S.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21112, 4 June 1943, Page 2

LEND-LEASE TO U.S.

DOMINION’S AID £7,000,000 LAST YEAR HUGE FOOD SUPPLIES (P.R.) WELLINGTON, June 4. Reciprocal lend-lease aid given by llm Dominion to the United States forces during the past vear amounted to £7,000,000, according to the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, in presenting the Budget to the House of Representatives last night. “The supplies and services which we provided for the United States forces included capital works such as temporary cantps, hospitals, and ships to the value of £3,250,000, food valued at: £2,000,0(10, and transportation, repairs, rentals, and other services to the extent of £1,750,000,” continued the Minister. “These supplies and services for the past year are shown at £7,000,000, as against corresponding assistance which we received amounting to a total of £26,800,000, comprising motor-vehicles, ammunition, aeroplanes, ordnance stores, oil and petrol, and supplies for other essential purposes. Activities under reverse lendlease are increasing rapidl.v, and the cost for this year will show a substantial increase.

“Reciprocal aid to the United States is estimated this year at a total of £20,000,000. The largest item will be foodstuffs, estimated at £9,000,000. In addition, building projects are estimated as follows: Buildings (mainly hospitals) £2,000,000, camps £2,000,000, warehouses £1,500,000 and miscellaneous £1,000,000, together with a shipbuilding programme estimated at; £2,000,000 for the South Pacific and South-west Pacific areas. Also an amount of £2,500,000 is estimated to lie required to meet payment of rentals, provision of services (including wharf labour), and purchase of miscellaneous goods to meet United States forces’ requirements. “The full cost of building is met in the first place by the war expenses account, but the actual charge against reverse lend-lease depends upon whether such buildings will be of use to Now Zealand for post-war purposes. If such a use is anticipated, then only a rental charge is made; but if the buildings will be of no practical use, then the full cost is charged against reverse lend-lease.

“Of the foodstuffs to be provided by New Zealand the largest, items are meat and vegetable ration 4,200,0001 b., potatoes 48,300,0001 b., apples 21,800,0001 b., service biscuits, 3,200,0001 b., butter 14,200,00011)., pork, 15,400,00011), mutton 14,000,0001 b., ham 7,800,0001 b., beef 40,800,000 11)., bacon 15,400,0001 b., beef (corned) 8,100,0001 b. The value of these items in New Zealand currency is £0,500,000, The additional £2,500,000 comprises such items as cereals, vegetables (fresh and canned), fresh fruit, cheese, .jams, sauces, and pickles.