43
The Governor-General of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

His Majesty's Government in New Zealand have considerable doubt as to the desirability of despatching with the Expeditionary Force that is contemplated when circumstances permit, the mechanical transport and much of the equipment referred to by the Chief of the General Staff in his telegram to the War Office (No. 42). The mechanical transport available here is of an improvised character consisting of Fords, Chevrolets, Bedfords, and Leylands, adapted as near as possible to War Office types, and in view of what would appear to be the paramount necessity of conserving shipping space His Majesty's Government in New Zealand are inclined to the view that much might be gained were it possible for His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to provide full equipment of mechanical transport of War Office type at the point of arrival of this contingent.

Similarly, much of the artillery and automatic equipment of the force is obsolescent or obsolete, and, quite apart from the desirability page 37 of leaving a reasonable portion of such equipment in New Zealand to meet contingencies, it would appear to be desirable to re-equip the force with modern equipment at its point of arrival.

His Majesty's Government in New Zealand would be grateful for the views of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on this matter.