SURPLUS CARGO GEAR

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24736, 29 November 1945, Page 4

SURPLUS CARGO GEAR

USE IN NEW ZEALAND PERMITTED

STATEMENT BY U.S ARMY OFFICER (P.A.) AUCKLAND, November 28. A denial that any surplus American equipment would probably be dumped,', and that any of the gear bought by the New Zealand Government could not be disposed of to other concerns under the terms of the lend-lease arrangement, was made by the officer ,in charge of the United States Joint Purchasing Board, Major D. C. Smith. He was replying to a statement made at * meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board on Tuesday by the engineersuperintendent, Mr D. Holderness, when discussing the question of the board's acquiring some of the modern cargo working equipment used by'the water division of the Joint Purchasing Board at Auckland.

"Anything we bring in from the United States of American origin, which, on completion of our use is surplus to our heeds, may be offered to the New Zealand Government," said Major Smith. "If the Government bought the equipment it could dispose of it in any way it liked."

In any case, added Major Smith, the waterfront gear concerned was not lend-lease equipment as it had been bought by the United States Army with army appropriations for its own use. If it was not shipped- 1 back to the United States for the army's use it would be offered to New certainly would not be dumped. If New Zealand did not want some of the surplus equipment, other dispositions, would be made for its sale, or the Americans would take it with them. Anything procured by the Americans under reverse lend-lease would be offered back to the New Zealand Government on completion of their use of it. The Government,' if it .accepted the articles, could • and would dispose of them as it saw fit.