WAR TRANSPORT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 138, 28 January 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

WAR TRANSPORT.

TIIORXYCROFT .MOTOR WAGGONS. Tho sight or marching nun raw recruits in um f ti and tra'i'Ou fc-1-diers in khaki—has conn- u> be a soiiH-wh.it familiar .sigh: n our streets, reminding us of Mr- reality of the struggle in which ov Mmpive is engaged. Yesterday afternoon. however, a spectacle of another kind, indicative of the stupendous transport problems incidental to j modern war, was afforded by a pro- , cession of four huge Thornyrroft motor waggons of the "-1.," or War Office type. These massive vehicles I have just been landed by the Aus-j trakusian agents (Messrs. A, Ilatrick; and Co., of W'angauuil, and their; presence in our streets vested;;'.' atracted consi«ler..i)le attention. War transport demands the maximum of strength, durability and efficiency. end these essentials are. obviously characteristic of the Thornycrott vehicles. Equipped with splendid engines of 40 h.]i., these waggons are designed to carry a load of four and , a half tons, and 10 carry it, too with I

out the slightest fuss or friction. Each of the lour waggons bears the hall-mark of efficiency—the legend "War Office Type"' in plain white letters beneath the name of Thor-ny-croft. But these particular vehicles are not. destined for war service. They are booked (or peaceful work in New Zealand, and they constitute, as it were, fee advance ftuard of a consignment of twenty waggons which the War Office has, bv special permit, allowed Thorny-f-rofls to send out to their Australasian representatives. This is indeed si uuirjiie concession. Thornycrofts aio hound by contract to supply '■' least twenty of these "J." waggons to the War Office every month; but it is stipulated that after the military rei|Uirem< uts have been met the authorities may. if they think lit, permit the firm to export their surplus output, if any. But twenty new waggon.-; must, at all costs. I>c available for the War Office every month. and it is only in very special circumstances that the prohibitory mandate, making it illegal to export, is waived. It. speaks eloquently for the estimation in which New Zealand is held in the .Mother Country that special permission should have been granted for the despatch of twenty of these valuable vehicles to this Dominion.