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Letter from the acting Prime Minister to Major-General Barrowclough

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 30 June, which was delivered to me by Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett, and to thank you for informing me of the discussions which have taken place between Admiral Newton and yourself concerning the provision of shipping to enable personnel of the Division to proceed on leave to New Zealand, and the location of the nucleus Divisional organisation.

I note that Admiral Newton proposes that the cadre organisation should be maintained in New Zealand rather than in New Caledonia, and that if this proposal is later approved he will then communicate with us officially on the subject.

I recognise that any such proposal would involve difficulties, not the least of which will be the provision in New Zealand of the necessary facilities to enable the forces to be maintained and trained in page 444 one area. I am very grateful to you for bringing these developments to my notice and I shall discuss them with the Prime Minister and the other members of War Cabinet immediately Mr Fraser returns to New Zealand, which I anticipate will be sometime towards the end of this month.

If, in the interim, you should learn of any further proposals on the subject, I shall be very glad if you will inform me of them.