NOT TO BE DUMPED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 November 1945, Page 5

NOT TO BE DUMPED

SURPLUS U.S. GEAR IN DOMINION Auckland, Nov. 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 lendlease 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 a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday by the engineer-superintendent, Mr D. fiolderness. when discussing the question of the board’s acquiring some of the modern cargo-working equipment used by the water division of the U.S.J.P.B. at Auckland. “Anything we bring in from the United States of American origin which, on completion of our use, is surplus to our needs, may be offered to the New Zealand Government,” said Major Smith. If the Government bought 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 were not shipped back to the United States for the army’s use it would be offered to New Zealand. It 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 American? 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.