H.—l9
Canteens
The service provided by the Canteen Board continues to give every satisfaction. During the year canteen profits amounting to £18,500 were distributed to Army units and to drafts proceeding overseas.
Pay, Accounts, and Base Records Casualties.—The following table shows the casualties reported to 31st May, 1945 :—
Finance. —The gross expenditure charged to War Expenses Account—Army—during the financial year ended 31st March, 1945, was £60,783,804, while credits in reduction totalled £9,814,627 and miscellaneous receipts £6,001, leaving a net expenditure of £50,963,176. In addition, £3,163,642 was realized from the sale of surplus Army assets. The expenditure and receipts brought to account by Army during the past six years to the 31st March, 1945, are as follows £ Gross expenditure .. .. .. .. 292,821,399 Credits .. .. .. .. .. 23,095,876 Net expenditure .. .. .. £269,725,523 Maintenance and Equipment of 2nd Division, 2nd New Zealand Expeditidnary Force.—-During the year eroded 31st March, 1945, £(N.Z.)5,635,755 was paid to the War Office in terms of the existing financial agreement with the British Government for the equipment and maintenance of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the European theatre of war. Previous expenditure on equipment and maintenance of the division was £(N.Z.)25,836,491, making a total to date of £(N.Z.)31,472,246. This does not include pay of troops or miscellaneous services outside the scope of the agreement. Charges for British Transports.—ln 1944-45 an amount of £(N.Z.)1,250,000 was paid to the British Ministry of War Transport for transport of 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force personnel on British transports. The total paid for this service to the 31st March, 1945, is £(N.Z.)4,574,672. War Stores and Equipment supplied to New Zealand from the United Kingdom.—Amounts totalling £(N.Z.)9,280,594 were paid to the British Government during 1944-45, and the total expenditure to date on bulk payments is £(N.Z.)25,437,628. Lend-lease.—Up to the 31st March, 1945, War Expenses Account—Army—recorded lend-lease transactions valued at £(N.Z.)24,941,450 and supplied reciprocal aid (reverse lend-lease) valued at £(N.Z.)3,238,222. Conclusion The co-operation of all ranks of the Army and civil staff in carrying out the various tasks—pleasant and unpleasant—allotted to them has continued on the same very high level as hitherto, and has given me the greatest personal satisfaction The very favourable development of the war situation, the obvious preparations for peace in the community, and various trends and activities have had an unsettling effort on many of the men and women in the Army, and I wish here to reaffirm the great importance of the work they are doing and to request that, despite any discouragements or irritations, they maintain the same high morale and standard of duty as they have always displayed. 1 wish again to express the appreciation of the Army of the co-operatior and assistance rendered by the sister Services, Government Departments, and numerous civil organizations, and my own personal appreciation of the efficiency, hard work, and devotion to duty displayed throughout the year by all ranks at Army and other Headquarters. E. Puttick, Lieutenant-General, 16th July, 1945. Commanding N.Z. Military Forces.
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Theatre of War. Total. Middle East. United Kingdom. Pacific. % Killed in action .. .. 4,033- 2 95 4,130 Died of wounds, &c. .. .. 1,791 1 41 1,833 Deaths due to accident .. .. 268 10 43 321 Died of sickness .. .. .. 242 8 32 282 Prisoners of war .. .. 8,181 .. 7 8,188 Missing .. .. .. 340 .. 2 342 Wounded .. .. .. 17,683 3 231 17,917 Total .. .. 32,538 24 451 33,013