TRANSPORT OFFER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 223, 4 July 1939, Page 3

TRANSPORT OFFER.

FACILITIES FOR GOVERNMENT.

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 3, A letter conveying the desire of licensed commercial goods transport operators of the Dominion to assist the Government in defence operations in the event of an emergency has boon sent to .the Prime Minister by the council of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, which met recently in Wellington. The meeting passed a motion assuring the Prime Minister of the wholehearted support of the Alliance in defence and offering to place the whole of its transport facilities and organisation at the disposal of the Government.

“The Alliance realises the important part transport must play! in defence,” said Air H. J. Knight (secretary of the Alliance) in an interview to-night. He added: “Officially we have ho knowledge of the Government’s plans, but we hope we may learn something more about them, and that the Government will make them known to us and discuss its requirements with the transport industry.’’ The mere taking over of trucks, said Mr Jv night, would be useless without the necessary organisation, and the owners and operators of the vehicles were obviously the best qualified to drive them. “This is not merely a .patriotic gesture,” he continued, “but a practical offer of help. We trust and believe that the Government. will accept it in that spirit} and will confer with the industry. Then, in the event of an emergency, everyone will know exactly what has to be done.”