MOTOR AMBULANCES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2404, 9 March 1915, Page 6

MOTOR AMBULANCES

ENOUGH FOR ALL PURPOSES.

Some misapprehension appears to exist in more than one centre in New Zealand about the supply of motor ambulances for the Expeditionary Force. The Defence Minister explained, the state of affairs fully to a reporter yesterday. "Quite early in the day," said Mr. Allen, "the Defence Department ordered 14 motor ambulances at a cost of £7000. I was advised at the time that these would be sufficient for our requirements. After that order had been placed, the Hawke's Bay people subscribed close on £4000 for more motor ambulances. With tbis money seven motor ambulances have been ordered, and the vehicles are to bo placed at the disposal of the British Red Cross.Societynuntil we want them. In addition to these Mr. and Mrs. Beetham, former residents of New Zealand, now in London, presented a motor ambulance, and. that one, as far as I know, is in Egypt at the present time. Another. has been presented by Mr. Firth, of Christchurch. It 1b coming from Turin, I believe, to Trentham, to be used there for the transport of sick men, for it must be remembered that we have 4000 men at Trentham, and we must look after the men there as well as at the front. In Dunedin some other people wanted to give another ambulance, but since I nave informed them that we have enough, they have decided' to vote their money to some other purpose. The fact is that we have enough motor ambulances for all our requirements, and we could not posßibly ask the New Zealand public to supply "us ■with any more." .