THIRD DIV. VEHICLES

Chronicle (Levin), 26 September 1946, Page 7

THIRD DIV. VEHICLES

■Press Asshciation

■ ■ ♦ Further Evidence at Inquiry

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. The House of iiep resentatives Befence Committee resumed its liearing today of the petitiyn of Mr. George Laing concerning the condition of ihe vehicles sent to the Third Dirision in the Pacific. Heplying to Mr. C- G. Harker, Brigadier H. E. Avery said that no vehieJe as far as he knew . was sent overseas and was not usable when it reached its destination. Mr. Laing at this stage made a roquest for the iindings and the minority reports, if any, of tlie inquiry held two • years ago known as the Perry lnquify. lie said those findirigs and the reports were assontial to hira for his caso, and should be tabied befqre the Defe'nce ' Committee. He alleged that Mr. T. P. Cleary, counsel for Brigadier Avery, had had access to those docuuients. Mr. A. G. Osborne aubmitted that the Perry Inquiry. bore no relationship to the present hearing, and its lludings could not influence this hearing. Mr. Laing submitted that as the ' Perry Inquiry was mstigated by reports 1 whieh he made tq tlie Prime Minister lie was entitled to have the inforniation he sought. Mr. E. M. Matf arlane ■ (chairman) ruled .the petitioner's request out of order. " It is no use my going any furtheii if I am to be gaggod," said Mr. Laing. He- then submitted a report made by;Mr. Osborne at thc Perry Inquiry and • this the chairman ulso ruled ■ out of order, Mr. Macfarlano saying tliat . if the committee decided tliat the findingk of tlie Perry I'nquity should be referred to arrangements would be made to have them placed before the committee. Brigadier Avery, crbss-examined by Mr. Laing, said ho did not recognise any classilication made of the vehicles other than that made by a tcclinical ollicer of the Third Division. Mr. K. H. VYebster, who, when an Army captain, was uii adviser to Brigadier Avery, said in evidence that tlie. Ford Motor Co. had n'otliing to do with the purchase of the 700 vehicles froni the Uuited Btates. It wus a Lend- . Lense negotiation. He described in de- " tail the " very considerable damage" this sliipment of vehicles had sufl'ered, maiuly by water and from melting snow penetrating the cases .and affocting the condition of the vehicles. Mr. W'eb-i ster said that the greater pa'rt of thej sliipment had a rear axl'e ra tio whieli f was unsuitable l'or the Army and the' vehicles had a difforent type of engine! from that required. The Anny took 211 of the vehicles, ;tlie remaining 48(5 eventually being jiut on . the eivilian market and sold, though without a prolit to the distributors. Mr. Webster said the cost of tlie reconditioning of the T86 vehicles wus £3200. This was mostly for labour in removing tiro rust and niaking good the deteriorution. It did not inelude the replacement of parts.f o his knowledge Mr. Laing did uot seek through J, the Ford Co. to insp'ect thc ISd vehicles. Had instructions bcen given to proceedl at once with tlie reconditioning of thej* 480 vehicles it would deiiuitely have in-j terfered with Ihe assembly of thc Army type of four by four vehicles, whieh were then arriving for assembly. Ylr. AYebster said' he had notliing to do himself with the selection of thej vehicles for the Third Division. j Lieut.-General Sir Edward Putlickj said the Tliird Division was sent toj New Caledonia piecemeal over a fairly considerable period. As a result of discussions with the ..Uuited Btates command in the fSouth Pacific, the division was at lirst to;. .uudertake garrison duties and later oil'ensi ve operalions. As u result of his contaet witli MajorGeneral Barrowclough, the Q.M.G. aml' others and his visits to the Pacilie lie j knew the position. in regard to thej vehicle situation, wliich was satisfac-l torv so far as the Third Division was concerned. Ile had known Brigadier Avery since 1914. 11c had servedi under Brigadier Avery and later be | came Brigadier Avery 's senior. ' Briga-1 dier Avery was Ihe best Q.M.G. tliat' could possibly have been provided for I the war period. His zeal and devotion} to duty no oue wrould doubt. il Mr. G. T. Bini: Was ab any timo dis-, satisfaetion expressed to you regardingj the vehicles sent over to the Pacilic? | General Puttick: No. Mr. Laing (in cross-examination) : i Did you at any timc threatcn to re-j sign if anv inquiry were made into Brigadier Avery 's control of transport? General Puttick: No. Mr. Laing: Is not it a fact that any reflection on Brigadier Avery 's work would be a reflection on you as G.O.C.?| General Puttick: 1 thiuk charges of this nature reflect on me, and I asso-i-iate myself fully with the charges that have been made. That is to say 1 regard myself as beiug equally charged with him. Mr. Laing: So you are an interested partv ? General Puttick: V eyy nmcli so. The hearing was adjourned untll LU.30 tomorrow morniug.