TWO CORVETTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 2

TWO CORVETTES

GIFT FROM BRITAIN GENEROUS ASSISTANCE (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 10. Two corvettes have been presented to New Zealand by the United Kingdom Government. Announcing this to-day, 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 towards this Dominion. “These two vessels, which are to be specially fitted for operations in the Pacific theatre of war,” Mr Fraser said, “will be of the greatest value to the Royal New Zealand Navy, arid I would like to express 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 laiger 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 also those of its great and glorious parent - , the Royal Navy.”