ARMY TRANSPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 239, 18 November 1940, Page 5

ARMY TRANSPORT

SURVEY OF TRUCKS AND CARS ; IN NEW . ZEALAND "START ALREADY MADE A survey in New Zealand of 'trucks and cars which. would be suitable for army transport should necessity arise was started some weeks ago. Many owners responded j to the appeal for co-operation, but | the number which may be required Is large and a further public call has been made in the last few days. The aim of this call is to enable the authorities to list at once particulars of trucks and cars which may he readily available to the arm-y, .-and thereby avoid possible -later con fusion and delay. Only by making - :such a survey can it be determined which trucks and cars can be withdrawn from civil use without interfering with the essential transport .-and business of the Dominion.

The survey is to be completed without delay and car and truck owners interested should communi--0

cate with the Commissioner of Trans by November 20. * Inspections will be made by the mechanical branches of the army, the Transport, and the Post and Telegraph Departments.

In addition to a possible emergency need, a substantial enlargement o£ the present army fleets is required for the training of the much larger numbers of men going

into camp since the widening of the

territorial system. Some vehicles >jjjrin£ry - be taken over at once; otlie'rs be surveyed and and will in ,a transport reserve, to be .-called \jpon at short notice if inquired. ' Trucks and cars may be either bought outright or hired for long ■or short" periods. As circumstances . will differ widely, the terms of purchase or hire will be discussed with individual owners. There are 50,000 trucks in New Zealand, and it is considered that a "large number, preferably from 10 to 40cwt, can be made available for training and defence without seri- " ous v interference with civil transport A much larger number of cars 1 ■.should be available, and, if it is possible, the selection will limit the .makes of car taken over so that some degree of standardisation, with consequent economy in spares and maintenance, can be achieved. Only vehicles in first -class condition will be considered as saiitable for the purposes of the Government,