Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III
243 — The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (Suva) to the Secretary of State for the Colonies1
243
The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (
Suva) to the Secretary of State for the Colonies
1
5 January 1941
The Tonga Government has agreed to:
( a) | Increase its defence force to 30 officers and 450 other ranks. |
( b) | Provide the force with three months' continuous training and more if required. |
( c) | Accept operational control by the Officer Commanding Troops, Fiji. |
( d) | Welcome key personnel from New Zealand. |
( e) | In the interests of efficiency, request a New Zealand officer to take over command of the local force, the present Commandant to be a Staff Officer, next in rank to the Commanding Officer, to advise on Tongan affairs. |
2. Estimates are not yet completed, but the Tonga Government has offered to provide £20,000 annually for the next two years, £5,000 from revenue and £15,000 from surplus funds. This island's spirited offer was entirely voluntary.
3. I will telegraph further when estimates are received from the Agent and Consul, 2 together with his views on the proposed contribution by the Tonga Government.
1 Repeated to the Governor-General of New Zealand.