WAR MATERIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1946, Page 7

WAR MATERIAL

TASK OF DISPOSAL FIGHTING DETERIORATION. Wellington, Oct. 3. How the task of disposing of or redistr. buting the vast amount of material held by New Zealand at the

cessation of hostilities has been tackled was the subject of a review by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) recently. When the war with Japan ended, he said, the New Zealand Army held stores worth £69,000,000, among which were £13,000,000 worth of ammunition, £14,000,000 worth of motor transport of special war types (including £9,000,000 worth of tanks and £3,000,000 worth of spare parts), £3,000,000 worth of small arms ammunition; guns and small arms of all types, engineering and signal stores.

The matter, said the Minister, fell into three sections: The equipment and war stores for the division in Italy; the equipment and stores which had been sent to the Pac.fic with the Third Division, but which had been returned to New Zealand; the equipment and stores retained in New Zealand for the servicing of troops in the Dominion if the occasion arose, or for the replenishment of stores used in any theatres of war by either New Zealand or British forces. New Zealand’s one division in the field on VJ Day was in Italy. There the store situation was relatively easy to settle.

The division was in possession of equipment, the property of New Zealand, which had cost £4,000,000, plus the expensive, elaborate equipment of the Fourth Armoured Brigade, which was of lease-lend origin and had been received from the stores of the United Kingdom.

Of New Zealand’s own equipment approximately one-third was sent to Japan for the use of J Force. Of the remainder, selected items of which New Zealand was short, were returned to the Dominion.

This selection comprised, in the main, anti-tank guns of a design of/ which none were held in the country, some automatic weapons, and a large quantity of medical stores, some of which were used to complete war reserves, and some made available for disposal through civilian channels, over to the representative of the British Ministry of Supply for disposal on behalf of the New Zealand Government. Large quantities were transferred to U.N.R.R.A. .and became a valuable contribution in kind to the Dominion's obligations in maintaining that organisation. Other quantities were sold at market prices to the Italian community for rehabilitation in that country. The remaining stores of no direct application to civil life were sold for scrap.

The armour in use by the division, which was the property of the British Government, was returned and an appropriate adjustment was made by the British Government with the Government of the United States.

PACIFIC EQUIPMENT. Pacific equipment was returned and distributed to ordnance stores and depots throughout New Zealand. Because of the nature of the campaign, the tropical climate in which it was fought, and the almost complete lack of normal cargo handling gear, a considerable amount of labour was required to recondition many of the items. A certain amount of work still remains to be done, particularly on gun and small arms ammunition. All the motor transport returned from this source has not yet been completely overhauled. Many administrative problems arose from the handling of equipment and stores in New Zealand. With the change-over from war to peace and the setting up of extensive stores selling and disposal agencies, such as the War Assets Realisation Board, there were serious staff and accommodation problems. The extent to which surpluses of stores could be sold hinged, in a great degree, on the capacity of both the staff and warehouses.

The Army has declared through the Wai’ Assets Realisation Board 246 separate schedules, comprising 11,700 lines, and valued at over £750,000. Besides ordnance stores, motor transport vehicles and parts have been disposed of to the value of £640,000. Two million gallons of petrol have been diverted to civil sources. In another held, 19,000 buildings comprising 1540 portable huts and 360 buildings of other types (these last have a value of £175,000), have been disposed of. “It must not be overlooked,’’ said Mr. Jones, “that we are still doing extensive provisioning for other armies and services of the British Commonwealth through our Defence Services Provision Office. This organisation is holding stores to the value of £1,400,000, which are awaiting shipment. In addition, it is holding stores to value of £3,700,000,

which are being disposed of in this country through the War Assets Realisation Board on behalf of the United Kingdom. Stores Io the value of approximately £2,800,000, the property of the British Government, are being held in this theatre as a strategical reserve.” TASK FOR PERSONNEL. Obviously, said Mr. Jones, it was necessary to retain personnel for the adequate care and maintenance of stores. He emphasised the difliculty and importance of that task. For instance. motor vehicles had to be oiled and greased periodically; ordinary metal tools of trade and supplies, such as actual tools themselves, screws, nuts, bolts, and nails, all had to be stored so that they were not subject to rust. Clothing had to be kept so that it did not become mildewed or moth-eaten. Boots had to be stored in such a way that the leather did not perish. Ammunition had to be kept at a specific temperature and had to be physically moved from time to time to prevent deterioration. Shells had to be painted. “It will be appreciated,’’ said the Minister, “that the care and mainten-

ance of these stores and equipment is an immense task and the services of a number of personnel are required. All those who joined the Army since the war started and who so desired will have been released by the end

of this month, and it has been necessary to recruit for lhe purposes of building up an interim force. This interim force will be a forerin io what may be termed our post-war regular Army. The personnel comprising this force will not only be utilised in looking after the equipment and stores, but will also be engaged in the various other activities of the Army."