GOOD DELIVERY

Evening Star, Issue 23829, 8 March 1941, Page 10

GOOD DELIVERY

ARMY COMMANDEER OF TRUCKS LARGE NUMBER WANTED BEFORE END OF APRIL Yery little trouble has been experienced in Dunedin as an outcome of the impressment of motor vehicles by the Army Department. Approximately 60 motor cycles and 90 trucks have been delivered to the Central Battery, this representing 95 per cent, of the commandeer. The remaining 5 per cent, is constituted of instances where a slight extension of time has been granted due to undue hardship being created through the shortness of notice. . Owners of motor vehicles that have been surveyed by the department must be prepared to surrender their trucks at any moment. In the Southern Military District the total number of vehicles which will be required by 'the authorities runs well beyond the .1,000 mark, and this big total will be needed before the end of April. In the event of full mobilisation it w*ill be considerably multiplied, and no notice will then be given owners. When future impressments occur it is hoped that it will be possible to give owners longer notice; on this occasion it was quite impossible, though it had been intended to do so. Tjie trucks were urgently required for the pending Territorial manoeuvres, 'and although the date of these manoeuvres was known some time ago, it has taken the department longer to go into the circumstances surrounding each vehicle than had been anticipated, principally because it was intended to avoid any chance of hardship. _ The are already ,in commission, and this morning two convoys, each of 60 vehicles, left taking north equipment belonging to the 2nd Canterbury Regiment in camp at Wingatui, and to the 2nd Scottish Regiment in camp at Forbury Park. These convoys are_ hound for the manoeuvre area in the vicinity of Ashburton. The manoeuvres begin to-morrow, the men leaving by three special trains between 8.30 and 10.10 a.m.