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

A very pressing need has arisen for the immediate provision of the following Transportation and Forestry companies:

One Headquarters Maintenance and Construction Group, Royal Engineers ….²

One Railway Survey company, Royal Engineers

Four Railway Construction companies, Royal Engineers

Two Forestry companies

Four Forestry companies will be required in addition early in 1940 and a further twelve Forestry companies at intervals at a later date.

There is no fixed war establishment for a Forestry company, but the 1918 war establishment of the Canadian company consisted of six officers and 173 other ranks (including 20 log-makers, 30 rollers and chain men, 10 road-cutters, and other specialists such as sawfilers, millwrights, log-setters, &c., and 40 general hands) and

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69 draught horses. No doubt in the light of modern mechanical conditions this establishment will require modification.

Units of this nature can only be raised in the United Kingdom with great difficulty and in small numbers, and the suggestion has been made that His Majesty's Government in New Zealand might be prepared to assist in the provision of these units. The New Zealand Government's early observations on this suggestion would be received gratefully by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.