EQUIPMENT FOR ARMY

Southland Times, Issue 24884, 26 October 1942, Page 4

EQUIPMENT FOR ARMY

GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN SUPPLY

“Latterly the equipment situation has improved beyond expectations, with a consequent improvement so far as the Home Guard is concerned,” says Lieu-tenant-General E. Puttick, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, in his annual report to the House of Representatives. “The undesirability of disclosing, possibly to the enemy, details of the equipment situation led to obvious deficiencies in the equipment of the Home Guard being accepted by the public as an indication of the state of the Army as a whole,” the report adds. “This was far from being the case.” The health of the troops during the year had been good. Epidemic diseases, though rather heavy in some camps, had been mild in severity, the main epidemics being influenza and mumps. The daily incidence of admission to hospital for the whole of the Dominion had been 2.68 a 1000, which, taking into account that men were admitted to hospital for ailments which in civil life would be treated in the home, could be considered as most satisfactory. SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION The supply of .303 small arms ammunition was in a satisfactory position. The position of camp equipment was fast iniproving, and deliveries of general equipment from overseas had been very substantial. Discussing wet canteens in certain camps, Lieutenant-General Puttick reported that the services provided were beneficial and definitely filling a need, and the incidence of drunkenness in camps where canteens were installed was markedly low compared with that in camps without wet canteens. The report went on to say that a large number of tanks had been received during the year, together with a proportion of spare parts and equipment, while a considerable number of armoured carriers and armoured cars had been produced in the Dominion. A heavy programme of coast defences was forecast last year, and it had been proved to be even more extensive than was then envisaged.

As a result of the recent extensive mobilization of troops it had been found necessary--practically to double the existing accommodation for brigade group camps, and several new camps were under construction. PUBLIC INTEREST

“The magnitude of the tasks which confronted the Army and the elements of defence problems of New Zealand are gradually becoming known to the general public, and the Army now feels that it has the interest and practical support of the whole nation in its work,” the report concluded. “This is valuable encouragement to all ranks. I also wish to refer to the splendid manner in which the men of the forces have adapted themselves to the strange and often arduous conditions of Army life. Their keenness and application in their training are also worthy of special note.

“Women are being employed in various capacities to an increasing degree, and the work of those now with the Army makes it evident that they will perform their duties with the most complete efficiency wherever they are employed. “The Home Guard units of the Army have shown admirable spirit in preparing themselves for war, and with the additional equipment now in their possession they are capable of playing an important part in the defence of the country.”