ARMY VEHICLES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 250, 23 October 1942, Page 6

ARMY VEHICLES

CRITICISM OF THEIR SPEED. The way in which Army motor vehicles are being operated through the country came under some very strong criticism at the annual meeting of the Automobile Association (Wellington) on Thursday. The chairman of the council of the association, Mr E. A Batt, told of his experiences on a journey between Wellington, Palmerston North, and the Wairarapa in connection with rubber cons-ervation recently. On the road, he said, he encountered between 60 and 70 Army vehicles. Many passed him at speeds which he stated to be between 60 and 70 miles an hour. "'We are endeavouring to conserve tyres and petrol," said Mr Batt, "and they are wasting it. I think the time has arrived when publicity should be given to the question If we cannot reach military headquarters by any other means, perhaps the Press will give prominence to these remarks. I emphasise to military headquarters that it is time they took hold of the question and acted." Mr Batt also referred to the damage that furious military driving was doing to the highways. Mr H. H. Sterling suggestecl that the military leaders probably desired that the Army vehicles should be used in a proper mann-er, but in the absence of detailed information all they could do was to issue general instructions. He said that members ought to report all such cases so that controlling officers could act against offenders, and demonstrate that the vehicles must be used properly. v