SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 18 September 1946, Page 7

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

—Press Association '

Vehides Sent to 3rd Div. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT ! t

By Telearavh-

WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. | Allegations that defeetivo vehicles w6re sent overseas with Ihe troops going to "the Pacific in January, 11143, wliilo now veliieles reuiaiued iu crates on the wharves were made by Mr. George Laing when giviug evidence tu duy bei'ore the Hefence Committee of the Ilou.se of ltepresentatives in support of his petition seeking for au in quiry into tlie niatter. Alr. Laing in his petition, which was preseuted to the House on Novembet 23, J945, claiined that in liis eapaeitv of inspector-general of niotor vehicles he had done his utniost to prevcnt the seiuling overseas of a group of ud'i vehicles, many of which were unlit foi strvicc overseas having already ltaJ luird wear in Suva. Alr. Laing describ ed the actions of those responsibie as i.ieing treachery to the troops. liis petition set out that he had pre viously pelitioned the IIousc on the matter in .iune, 1945, but withdrew that petition on being assured that a conunittee of inquiry would start on ihe i'ollowing day. He alleged that tliis previous inquiry was unsatist'actory, and tha» he had ncver been able to learn what decisions, it' any, were reaehed. Alr. Luing allegcil that, as a resull of the efl'orts he had made to prevem the I'anlty vehicles being sent overseas, he had iuctirrod the "lioslility of per sons in liigh places who were involve.i i ti these matters, " and that his olliciul position had been prejiulieed as a lesuJt of diseriniination shown against liiin. Ile also alleged that discipliaary action had been takou against the Army o tlie - Ors wiio drew his attcnlicn to the faultv vehicles. ; liis petition accordingly asked foi a [iublic inquiry so that those responsibie could be dealt with "aeeordiiig to then degreo of inconijief ence or guilt," and to ensure that those who had been wrouged or censured should liave their probit.v publicly veinstated. Alr. Laing told the coinniittee that when in Jauuary, 194,"., three Ariny ollicers called at his oJlice to exprcBS their coneeru about the coudition of the vehicles which were to be sent to the Pucilic, he prepared n lneinorandiiin foi the Priine Alinister reporting tlie posi liou as those ollicers had told it to liiin. liis iyformation was that the decision to seiul the defeetivo veliieles away was the decision of War Cabinet. He re coinmended Ihe Prime Minister to take urgent aelion hui despite tliis the vehicles were shipped away. He was reluetant to call witnesses, said Alr. Laing, bocause of tlie action which had already beou takou against oue of tlie! Army oflieers eoiicerned. Ile alleged j that the control oi' motai* transport by Armv houdquurters was iiieompetent with inexperieixeed nien liokling iuiportant positions. He also declured that the needs of the Army and iuterests of the troops overseas were subordinatcd to the in terests of prolit I'nr members of tlie Motor Traders' Association to wliom Ihe no w veliieles were made available. | while the defeetive oiies were supplied ! to the troops in the Paeifie. I Alr. Laing said certain- Army otlioers uho protested at what was going on, ■ were wunied that as thev would donbt J less wisli to re-enter the motor trade after tlie war, thoy should, in their conduct as Army ollicers, be more symputhetic to the trade. Alr. Laing said

1 1 " 1 1 1 ■■ — - — i that at the time tlie defeetive vehicles ; were sent away theie were humlreds ot j vehicles -m good onler available while j uew ones still in crates, were on tlie w harves. When Alr. Laing eommeneed to read to the committee a second lenglhy mem- J oranduin he had sent to the Primo Atiu j lster on April 1, 194.'!, Alr. T. J'. Cleary, who with Alr. S. G. Stephenson repre- j sontod the Army Hepartment. protested . that in tlus menio Alr. Laing made eleven ciiarges against the Army Do- j pai'tment, niost oi lliem quile unrelated to the jiresenl petition. Alr. Laing w as directed by tlie Chair- , man of the Lonunitlee, Alr. ALacPariane, to eoniiue his submissions to the sub- 1 ject matter ot' the petition. Quotmg from his second momo to ihe Prime Alinister, Alr. Laing said the-re would liave been more veliieles in good coudition but for au agreemeiit between the Army Hepartment and tiie mouor trade to which now vehicles wero released, w hile the troops going o\ erseus were giveu vehicles which w'Tre meclian icallv uusound. Alr. Laing likened the treachery of those couceraed to Ihe treacliery which occurred in France. He i said that about that time 7)499 vehicles were being classiJied by Ihe Army as suiplus while his in tormatiou was thut some 13,1199 veliieles had l.iecn over or- : dcrcd althougli these orders were most-i Jy caiicelled at a later dale. Alr. Laing said an agreement made by ' P.rigadior Avery with the Motor Traders' Association, was approved by Treusury after the most casual scrutiny. About two moiitha after sendiug hisl seeoml meino to ihe Prime Alinister he mel Alr. Eraser in the corridor of Parliament buildings. Alr. Eraser said War t abinet had consulereu Alr. L'aing 's petition "terrible" and said something lirastic would liave to be done with liim it' he could not substantiate tlie ciiarges. When he preseuted his lirst petition to tlie House, Alr. Eraser ,seut ior liiin and toki liiin he would liave to withdiaw it. He refnsed to do so until tohi tltal a Commitlee of Inquiry would uivestigate the matter. 'l'nat eommittce was presided over by Eir Williaiu i'errv, A1.L.G.. tlie other members bcinn

Alessrs A. G. Osborne, M.P., and Ailaiil . Hamilton, Al.P. Tliis conunittee wus un- , satisi'actory because Brigadier Avery, against wliom he had made serious ciiarges, was not present. Questioned by members of tlie com mitlee Alr. Laing said he could not recall being told the reason for Lhu Lrigadier 's absonce. j When Alr. Laing, continuing liis sub ; niissions, quoted from a report made to liiin by au Army Lieutenaiil who had eomplaiiiud about the vehicles, Alr. Cleary said that, aecording to Alajor General Ikurowclougli, it was largelv Oi Ihe ineorrect statemonts of this heiitenaut, sent baek from the Pacilic, tliat had eaused the trouble. Alr. Laing was questioaed liy several members of tlie committee as to tlie nature oi tliis ollieer's report to liim. Alr. Laing eluimcd that as InspeetorGeneral oi' Motor X'ehicles he exercised general supeiwision of Army vehicles. While the action of tlie otiicer conceru ed iu eoming to himself — a civilian — J was higlilv unusiml, it was because timi ollieer's protests to liis superiors had been without ell'ect. (.'ross examiued by Alr. Cleary, Alr. Laing said he was not prepared to ac cept the statemont by Alajor General Harrowelough tliat there was no danger (o lit'e eaused by the seiuling of those | part icular vehicles overseas. He had made an allegation to tlie Prime Alinis ter tliat certain vehicles were being directed to tlie trade aiul not to the Third Divisiou. Alr. Cleary: Did you know tliat those veliieles were rejeeted by the Army? Alr. Luing: I did know but 1 was very suspicious of the grounds ou which thoy were rejeeted. Alr. Laing said he was prepared to aecept the statement made by Alajor. General Harrowelough on Eebruarv 9, 194.'!, that there had not been lisk of injurv, far less risk to lif'e, as the re- j su 1 1 of the coudition of the vehicles : but if the veliieles had been in action J there would liave been a risk. Alr. Cleary, quoting from the tinding of tlie coinniittee presided over by Sir; William Porry, Al.L.C., said tliat the, Army otticers concerned had beeu exon-i erated but Alr Laing 's lauguage concer-i ning tliose otlicers was eomlemned, and! tlie suggestion was made thut he sliould oll'er an apology. Afr. Laing said the c.rux of liis com-! plaint was that worn out vehicles we-re going ov erseas while proper vehicles reinained in ihe eoiinlry. Alr. Cleary asked if oue Army ofli- ; cer's statement was made to Mr. Laing' while the otlieer was uiulor ojien arrest. l Alr. Laing: Yes, and he was cleared1' J of all the ciiarges againsl liim. i