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The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand

Very careful consideration has been given to your telegram of 27 November (No. 260) about equipment for the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment and the New Zealand Divisional Reconnaissance Unit. The desire of the New Zealand Government that these units should be fully equipped at the earliest possible date is fully appreciated, and we are anxious that everything possible should be done to provide the necessary equipment.

As regards the Divisional Reconnaissance Unit, however, the position is that equipment is not yet available, and up to the present it has not been possible to issue equipment to the Divisional Reconnaissance Unit of any division, whether from the United Kingdom or from the Dominions.

As the New Zealand Government are aware, supplies of all types of equipment are allocated periodically to the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, who allots them among the units under his command in accordance with their operational requirements. At present the shortage of tanks of all types is acute, and it is very much regretted that it will not be possible to equip the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry before its departure from the United Kingdom for the Middle East.