ARMY TRANSPORT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 42, 13 November 1940, Page 5

ARMY TRANSPORT

Survey Of Trucks And Cars In Dominion START ALREADY MADE A survey of New Zealand trucks and cars which would be suitable for army transport should necessity arise was started some weeks ago. 'Many owners responded to the appeal for co-op-eration, but the number which may he required is large and a further public call has been made in the last few days. The aim of this call is to enable the authorities to list at once particulars of trucks .and cars which may be readily available to the army, and thereby avoid possible later confusion and delay. Only by making such a survey can it be determined which trucks and cars can lie withdrawn from civil use without interfering with the essential transport and business of the Dominion.

The survey is to be completed without delay and car and truck owners interested should communicate with the Commissioner of 'Transport by November 20. Inspections will be made by the mechanical brandies of the army, the Transport Department and the Post and Telegraph Department. In addition to a possible emergency need, a substantial enlargement of the present army fleets is required for the training of the much larger numbers of men going into camp since the widening of the territorial system. Some vehicles may be taken over at once: others will be surveyed and listed, and will remain in a transport reserve, to be called on at short notice if required. Trucks and ears may be either bought outright or hired for a long or short period. As circumstances will differ widely, the terms of purchase or hire will he discussed with individual owners. There are 50.000 trucks in New Zealand, and it is considered that a large number, preferably from lOcwt. to -10 cwt., can be made available for training and defence without serious interference with civil transport. A much larger number of cars should be available, and, if it is possible, the selection will limit the makes of car taken over so that some degree of standardization. with consequent economy in spares and mnintemiiice, can be achieved. Only vehicles in tirstclass condition will be considered as suitable for the purposes of the Government. Early Response Wanted. A Government advertisement in today’s issue expresses an urgent desire for information regarding sound motorvehicles which their owners are prepared to transfer to the Government for purposes of National Defence and Army training. The Government is particularly interested in trucks of from 4-ton to 2-tons capacity and information is also required regarding the availability of motor-cycles and a limited number of modern motor-cars. Owners are asked to provide fid! particulars of their vehicles and to state whether thev are prepared to make them available to the Government for hire or with the option of purchase. The urgency of early response is emphasized.