FURIOUS DRIVING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1942, Page 2

FURIOUS DRIVING

SPEED OF ARMY VEHICLES.

VERY STRONG CRITICISM.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—copyright) WELLINGTON, This Day. 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) last night. The chairman of the council of the association, Mr E. A. Batt, told of his experiences when on a journey between Wellington, Palmerston North, and the Wairarapa in connection with rubber conservation recently. On the road, he said, he encounteied 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 tires 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 bv 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 suggested that the mill- - tary leaders probably desired that the Army vehicles should be used in a propel manner, but in the absence of detailed information all they could do was to issue geneial instructions. He said that members ought to report all such cases so that conti oiling officers could act against offenders, and demonstrate that the vehicles must be used properly.