The 25-pounder

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 12

The 25-pounder

Sir, — So the 25-pounder gun has fired its last live round and is to be withdrawn from service (“The Press”, January 22). Manv gunners throughout New Zealand will hear this with regret. I would like to suggest that the Minister of Defence preserves two guns for posterity by presenting one to a North Island and one to a South Island museum. I do not favour dumping obsolete artillery pieces in civic squares and playgrounds — they become neglected and end up rusting. One gun in a museum in each island, polished and painted in regimental colours, with a descriptive plaque attached, would be sufficient. Perhaps this is something that the Gunners’ Association could take up with the Minister. At the New Zealand artillery celebrations in Christchurch, in 1967, it was a matter of regret among older gunners that the Army could not produce one 18-pounder field gun for exhibition. Let i - hope this never happens with the 25-pounder. — Yours, etc., J. M. JOHNSTONE. January 31, 1977. [The Minister of Defence (Mr Allan McCready) replies: “Plans for the preservation of the 25-pounder gun for display have not yet been finalised. It is certain, however, that guns will be retained at the Army Museum in Waiouru and at appropriate Army facilities (e.g. the School of Artillery- and headquarters of field artillery regiments). Your correspondent, J. M. Johnstone, can also be assured that at the time of disposal, I will ensure that the allocation of 25-pounders for public display will take into account the need for a reasonable geographic spread.”]