Defence queries vehicle estimate

Press, 4 March 1989, Page 4

Defence queries vehicle estimate

PA Wellington The Defence Department is bristling over allegations in the Quigley review that its vehicle fleet is considerably greater than it needs. The Chief of Defence Staff, general John Mace, repeated yesterday a comment that he should be sacked if it was found the Army’s off-road vehicle fleet could be reduced by half, as recommended by the review. The general’s spokesman, Major Peter Fry, has said in an interview the review failed to acknowledge the different uses of fleet vehicles. The review, made public on Thursday, said the Army had 1479 vehicles which represented one for every four servicemen. The “white fleet” — cars, light commercials, minibuses, trucks and buses — was grossly underused when compared with private rates and recommended that some of it should be sold. Major Fry said many of the vehicles in the “green fleet” were not used for carrying passengers, but were designed for heavy lift use, as ambulances, fitters’ vehicles, and as radio bases. Major Fry said he could not comment on the white fleet. The Quigley team said there was an almost total lack of reliable data on which to make an objective review decision, but it appeared available money drove the green fleet purchase, not strategic assessment