3RD DIVISION VEHICLES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 9

3RD DIVISION VEHICLES

DEFENCE COMMITTEE INQUIRY

EVIDENCE BY BRIGADIER AVERY (P A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Evidence by Brigadier H. E. Avery, formerly Quartermaster-General, was heard to-day by the Defence Committee of the House of Representatives, which is investigating allegations by Mr G. Laing, Government Inspector of Motor Vehicles, about the condition of vehicles sent to the 3rd Division in the Pacific.

Before Mr Laing made his charges to the. Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) on April 1, 1943, he was in possession of the full facts and knew why the 486 allegedly new vehicles could not be supplied to the" 3rd Division, said Brigadier Avery. Brigadier Avery‘said the Ford Company , denied Mr Laing’s allegation that their representative early in 1943 was booking orders for civilian sales based on the knowledge derived from the Army that the 486 vehicles would be released for civilian sale. The disposal of those vehicles was, in any case, not in the Army’s hands but was the responsibility of the Vehicles Disposal Board.

Brigadier Avery said that on January 19, 1943, he wrote to the Minister of Defence (the Hbn. F. Jones) suggesting that the whole matter appeared to be a mare’s nest stumbled upon by Laing. Dealing with the charge that condemned and unserviceable vehicles were sent to the Pacific endangering the lives of 3rd Division men, Brigadier Avery said no condemned or unserviceable vehicles were sent. The worst that could be said - was that some of the vehicles of the commercial type sent for temporary use had done a considerable mileage, but mileage alone did not make z them unserviceable.

In the report he made to the Prime Minister on February 1, 1943, \he showed that of the 2523 vehicles then on the 3rd Division’s establishment 881 new ones had gone forward and 78 J., ne w on es were awaiting shipment, while 645 used ones had gone forward and 214 used ones awaited shipment.

Vehicles Passed Of the used vehicles sent, all had been inspected and passed by 3rd Division officers except 80 vehicles of two battalions, which were attached to the division. Those vehicles had been passed by other Army officers but were to have been replaced by new vehicles. This proved impracticable before embarkation, but was done in New Caledonia.

In a letter dated February 6, 1943, Major-General H. E Barrowclough wrote to Brigadier Avery stating that any suggestion that unsafe vehicles had been forwarded was totally irresponsible. Brigadier Avery read further correspondence between himself and MajorGeneral Barrowclough in which the latter said that junior officers who had complained about the vehicles had acted sincerely, but did not know the full picture and were unaware that the division had all the 6x4 trucks it needed.

Brigadier Avery, continuing his evidence, said Major-General Barrowclough in his correspondence declared the junior officers' critical view of the transport«supplies was not justified by the facts. Major-General Barrowclough’s own concern was only that used vehicles might have been supplied when according to reports new Army transports were being issued to home defence units but MajorGeneral Barrowclough was satisfied on investigation that the 3rd Division had had absolute preference over home defence units. Major-General Barrowclough had said the four officers who had made complaints were conscientious soldiers and although the result of their unfounded statements .was mischievous, their intent was not Major-General Barrowclough had never doubted his (Brigadier Avery’s) personal desire to do his utmost for the Srdr Division; "but-had questioned

until fully acquainted of the position whether subordinates might be failing to implement Brigadier Avery’s policy. Brigadier Avery said that other than the 488 vehicles referred to there were no surplus vehicles in New Zealand early in 1943. The Army at the outbreak of the war had 62 vehicles at its disposal, a figure which rose by impressment, purchase, and other means to 30,298 by the end of 1943. Replacements Made i “I recognised probably far better than Mr Laing the desirability of four-wheel-drive vehicles for the Army," said Brigadier Avery. ‘‘ln December, 1941, long before the dispatch of the 3rd Division was contemplated, the Army ordered more than 5000 vehicles in Canada and the United States, but it was the end of 1942 before they began to arrive for assembly." He was satisfied it would be possible to equip the division fully with Army type vehicles before it moved to the battle area, and that proved to be the case. When used vehicles were supplied to the division for temporary use, he knew that the division would not be in action for some months, but that was not known to Mr Laing or to those officers who complained about the vehicles. "Personal Vendetta" Brigadier Avery said the charges made against him, and the extravagant language used, were based on ignorance of the true facts, and the supply to Mr Laing of faulty and incorrect information. The charges were also influenced by Mr Laing’s personal animosity to himself. Mr Laing had carried on a personal vendetta against him since January. 1941. Mr Laing said he had never had any personal feeling against Brigadier Avery, He asked Brigadier Avery it he could supply reasons tor the alleged vendetta. Brigadier Avery: I can if necessary. At the right time and place I shall be glad to give my reasons. Mr Laing asked that members of the committee keep their minds open on that point. Mr A. G. Osborne (to the chairman) : I think Mr Laing should be assured that the committee has an open mind on every matter brought before it. The chairman (Mr R. M. Macfarlane); That is so. Brigadier Avery, replying to Mr Laing, said the only information at Army Headquarters concerning the role of the 3rd Division was that it was sent to New Caledonia for training in preparation for active operations at some future date, Mr Idling: Do you agree that the 3rd Division should have been equipped with the best of vehicles at the time? Brigadier Avery: Yes. Mr Laing* Would you say that no better vehicles could have been sent to the 3rd Division? Brigadier Avery: Only by taking the eyes out Of the vehicles of the divisions in New Zealand, which were on a war footing, and had to be retained as such. Only by entirely robbing other divisions in New Zealand could better, vehicles have been sent to the 3rd Division. The vehicles that were sent were suitable for training purposes. None of the vehicles was unserviceable, but some were unsuitable because of their body type. Instruction to Officers

In a further reply to Mr Laing Brigadier Avery said that shortly after he became QuartermasterGeneral he made it perfectly clear to all his officers that the Government Inspector of Motor Vehicles had no standing with his department, and they were forbidden to deal with the Government inspector.

Mr Laing: Were you made aware of the findings of the inquiry? Brigadier Avery: Not until three or four weeks ago. Mr Laing: Were any document* you put in returned to you?—No. In reply to Mr Osborne Brigadier Avery denied a suggestion that he had had access to papers put in at the inquiry of which Sir William Perry was chairman, and therefore he could not have used them for the preparation of his defence. There had never been any request by Army Headquarters for disciplinary action to be taken against any 3rd Division officers con-

cerned in reporting on the vehicles, but General Barrowclough, when on a visit tp New Zealand: indicated that some might have to be taken because their reports contained misleading and inaccurate information. Brigadier Avery said that Mr Laing held no appointment whatever in the Army. He (Brigadier Avery) had never made a statement to anyone that 4x2 vehicles were sent away to be written off, In reply to the Hon. F. Jones he said that a fair proportion of 30,000 impressed vehicles were unsuitable for the Army, but they were used because nothing else was available. He knew that every effort was being made to obtain suitable vehicles from overseas. Of the 30,000 vehicles only 83 were written off for salvage. The hearing was adjourned until 9.30 ajn. on Wednesday. 1