HOME GUARD TRAINING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 112, 30 May 1941, Page 5

HOME GUARD TRAINING

USE OF COUNTY TRUCKS

POSITION REGARDING INSURANCE

A letter from an insurance office received at Tuesday's! meeting of the County Council revealed that a number of nesw regulations had been introduced by companies, in connection with trucks being used for military; purposes. The Council found that, unless trucks used for Home Guard training were driven by o county driver,, then the vehicles would not be covered! by. insurance. Injury to men training in the trucks would, of course, be a mat- } ter for Government insurance as already announced. This matter was one that caused considerable discussion, as the council had' been permitting the Guard the use of trucks under special circumstances,, the main use being made Avith the training, of the Headquarters Transport Company, and the discussion ensued on the lines as to whom the use of the trucks would be allowed. Gr L. W. Luxton explained that the county lorry had been made uss; of recently for the specialist training of the Transport Company, which had in its ranks two* council truck drivers. He felt that the assistance of the council should be continued in this direction, and when it was suggested that other centres should also have use of the vehicles* he added that Avhen the present specialists had progressed with their training then other areas might commence such training arid he permitted tfie use of both the trucks and' dxrvers.

During the discussion It was stated that the Wllakatane Guard would be the only one to make trse of the vehicles as the council drivers wer«j not available in the outer districts, however, it was- a suggestion that this could be overcome by the Guard detailing its drivers to the other areas for manoeuvres.

The chairman. Mr J. L.. Burnett, j explained tlial it had been the intention; to> allow the use of tfaa ! trucks only on special occasions, i The eoumcil wished to assist the I Guard in every way possible but at the same> time 1 would have to safet- ! guard the ratepayers interests. After a somewhat lengthy discussion it was decided until further notiee that the county trucks be available for the Transport Company of the Gaard in any part uf the county providing the usual county driver was in charge of his ; respective vehicle and that the driv|er*s services be given voluntarily. • Clrs T. G. H. Cawte, A. F. McGougan and C. T. Smith were > posed to the suggestion being of the opinion that the motion meant that only the Whakatane unit would benefit.