DEAL IN RIFLES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1881, 15 October 1913, Page 8

DEAL IN RIFLES.

MR. ALLEN'S PURCHASE IN CANADA. Reference to the purchase in Canada by the Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence) of a large number of secondhand rifles, for tho use of tho Defence Forces of this Dominion, was made by tho local Opposition journal yesterday. It was asserted that there was something that required explanation, but the Hon. Jas. Allen Btatod, on being approached,' that tho matter had already been mado public, and that as a matter of fact a vote for the purchase of the rifles was appended on this year's Estimates.

Tho story of the deal as told by the Minister, is that when ho went Homo last year tlio Government was anxions to obtain as quickly as possible a supply of rifles for tho Senior Cadets and Territorials. He was authorised to purcliaso rifles, and while in England he ordered a ■ number of new and secondhand rifles, the latter being repaired and made as good as now. It was found impossible, however, to obtain a sufficient supply, and l an order was Riven for 5()00 new rifles. There had been purchased in London 10,000 se-cond-hand Lee-Enfield rifles (tlio typo in use in New Zealand), which wero repaired and robrowncd at a cost of £1 Os. 9Jd. each, but w J hen tho Minister Reached London ho found that tliero wero no more of that typo available. He was offered 5000 now Lee-Metford rifles at £1 12s. 6d. each (a reduced price), or 5000 second-hand rifles of tlio same pattern, not repaired, at 10s. each. He got authority to purchase 5000 second-hand Lee-Metfords. When ho. got to Canada, however, lie was informed that the Defence authorities had got fullv 60,000 Lee-Enfield rifles not in use, because it had been decided to use the Boss rifle, which is mado in Canada. Many of tlieso rifles were reservo stock, some had only been used a few times, while others Wad been in service for some time. Mr. Allen approached tho Canadian Minister of Defence (Colonel S. Hughes) and informed him of Now Zealand's needs, and that he was willing to nurehaso secondhand rifles provided tliey -were good. Colonel Hughes met him in a most generous spirit, and it was finally decided that Mr. Allen should have liis choice out of the 60,000. After examination by an expert obtained for the Tiurposo, 15,000 of tho best were selected and purchased at the nominal prico of one dollar each. It was really a genorous cift. Mr. Allen immediately cabled to England and cancelled tho order for 5000, which would have cost £2500. With tho exnenditure of another £625 he was thus able to purchase 15.000 really good second-hand Lee-Enfields.

The New- Zealand Express Company's ATgyll motor lorry has now covered nearly 25,000 miles in two years' srevico without any breakdown; It lias made frequent long journeys up country, sometimos of between 200 and 300 miles in the round trip, carrying full loads all the time, and crossing ''the Paekakariki and Itiniutaka saddles. Argvlls are adopted by the principal municipalities and motor transport companies in New Zealand. For immediate delivery one 1-ton Argyll commercial vehicle. .T. E. Fitzgerald, Lamblon Quay, North Island agent.—Advt.