LEND-LEASE AID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25718, 14 December 1944, Page 4

LEND-LEASE AID

DOMINION’S REQUIREMENTS PLANNED FOODSTUFFS IN RETURN (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. An announcement that a programme of lend-lease aid for the future needs of New Zealand had been planned in Washington recently was made by the Minister of Finance, Mr W. Nash, m a statement in the House -of Representatives to-day on the second phase of lend-lease procedure. The Minister said that discussions were held in Washington between the British mission headed by Lord Keynes and the United States administration regarding the manner in which the joint resources of the nations might best be used for. the .continuation of the war.-against Japan after the defeat of Germany. :--The Dominion was represented by. the Minister of Supply, Mr D. G. Sullivan, and the Minister at Washington, Mr C. A. Berendsen. They had put forward comprehensive statements showing on the one hand the future requirements from the United States, which were essential for New Zealand’s-)eco- 1 nomy to be as effective as possible in the prosecution of the war against Japan, and on the other hand particulars of the substantial quantities of' foodstuffs and other commodities that the Dominion had supplied or undertaken to supply to the United States forces in the Pacific area. .

“ We have agreed to continue furnishing the United States forces with, supplies, mainly foodstuffs, within our capacity.” said Mr Nash. “Therewill be no change in the basic principles of lend-lease or reverse lend-lease. but jt is inevitable with changes in .the war situation that there will be alterations in the types of goods to be supplied by the .United States. it is hoped that after the defeat of Germany it will be possible for the Dominion to step-up its civilian production and to increase the imports of civilian goods, subject to any limitations demanded by the needs of,the war against Japan.” Mr Nash added that he would like on behalf of the Government to endorse fully the remarks made by Mr Churchill in his recent announcement in the House of Commons, in which he expressed "his great appreciation of the practical with which the realities of the situation had been examined in Washington and of the results achieved.