IN CASE OF NEED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 169, 19 July 1941, Page 5

IN CASE OF NEED

MILITARY TRANSPORT

|NEW ORGANISATION CREATED (0.C.) WELLINGTON, this day. The emergency transport requirements of the army in the event of an enemy attack are to be met by the establishment of a Special Army Motor Transport Reserve. In making this announcement to-day the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, said the reserve would be organised into units known as "lines of communication motor transport companies."

"Adequate motor transport is an essential requirement of modern !warfare," Mr. Semple said. "The ipurpose of the scheme is to provide a Iwell-organised transport service to imeet the need should it arise. The iorganisation is primarily for the use of the army, and in the event of an emergency will be subject to army control. The whole organisation will be on a voluntary basis and the personnel will be attested under the Home Guard.

"A special course of instruction for district, group and company officers is being held at the army school at Trentham from July 19 to 2«. As soon as this is completed the officers will proceed with the training of the companies under their charge.

| "The whole scheme has been carefully examined by the army and Home Guard authorities, the road Itiansport organisation and the Transport Department, and I feel the new iorganisation will be the means of providing an additional safeguard to jour national security. I should like [to pay a tribute to the Carriers' [Federation and the Road Transport iAlliance for the valuable assistance Ifreely given in connection with the jscheme."

The following officers from No. 1 Transport District are to attend the course at Trentharn:—District transport officer, Mr. E. J. Phelan; group transport officer. Auckland City, Mr. ;j. H. Moon; Auckland City company 'commander?. Messrs. H. A. Craig. 1". Co!ledge. E. J. Price. W. B. Dniiihanty, M. J. Cooper and E. S. Kalis.