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Letter from Major-General Barrowclough to the Prime Minister

I have the honour to report that I have now returned to New Zealand, and that I have opened my Headquarters in the Auckland District.

By far the greater proportion of the personnel of my Force has now reached this country, and I have left Brigadier Dove, my Base Commandant, to supervise the shipment of such equipment as is still in New Caledonia. All arrangements in regard to this are working smoothly.

I shall be glad to receive further instructions regarding the future of my Force as soon as you are in a position to give them. I have written to General Puttick suggesting that it might be advisable for me to come to Wellington at an early date.¹ Even though it will be impracticable to make final policy decisions, I think it is imperative that some interim policy should be laid down at the earliest possible opportunity so that I shall know upon what lines you wish me to carry on in the meantime.