GIFT OF CORVETTES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 271, 11 August 1943, Page 4

GIFT OF CORVETTES

Great Britain’s Goodwill To New Zealand USE IN PACIFIC THEATRE Two corvettes have been presented to New Zealand by the United Kingdom Government. Announcing this yesterday, the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said the offer of the gift was conveyed to him in a personal message from Mr. Churchill. It had been warmly accepted as a mark of the goodwill and interest of the United Kingdom toward this Dominion. “These two vessels, which are to be specially fitted for operations in the Pacific theatre of war,” said Mr. Fraser, “will be of greatest value to the Royal New Zealand Navy, and I would like to take this opportunity of expressing the deepest appreciation and thanks of the Government and people of. New Zealand for this further example of the ready and warm-hearted assistance which the United Kingdom Government has throughout the present war, and, indeed, at all times, extended to this Dominion.” Mr. Fraser said that these vessels would be larger and superior in speed to the Moa, which, with her sister ship the Kiwi, had achieved such notable success against the Japanese in the Solomons. “I feel sure,” he added, "that the new vessels will worthily uphold the traditions not only of the young New Zealand Navy but those of its great and glorious parent, the Royal Navy, also.”