VEHICLES FOR TROOPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 September 1946, Page 6

VEHICLES FOR TROOPS

CONDITION OF EQUIPMENT SENT OVERSEAS PETITIONER QUESTIONED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. The cross-examination of George Laing, who is seeking an inquiry into the condition of the motor vehicles sent to the Third Division in the Pacific, was continued by members of the Defence Committee of the House of Representatives this morning. Replying to Mr.’A.-G. Osborne, Laing said his memory might have misled him in connection with some evidence. “More Easily Dumped.” To Mr. Jones, Minister of Defence, he said he did not have any evidence other than what he was told, that the Government was aware that the vehicles were sent overseas because they were more easily dumped there than in New Zealand. He did not believe that that was the decision of Parliament or the Government, but no one was “put on the spot,” except those who had battled for good vehicles to be sent to the troops. To Mr. Peter Carr, he said he still believed that those who were responsible for sending bad vehicles overseas were traitors. _■ Replying to Mr. T. L. MacDonald, Laing said he had made two written requests, as well as verbal requests, for the findings reached by the War Cabinet Committee. To Mr. J. A. Roy, he said he understood that 35 vehicles, out „of a shipment of 70 which was sent overseas, were condemned because of mechanical defects and, to Mr. C. G. Harker, he said that different men of the Third Division had commented to him on the condition of the vehicles sent to New Caledonia. “Were Very Bad.” Mr. A. AV. T. Anderton: Did you examine the vehicles on the wharf which you said were unfit for service? Laing: I did not try many, but those . I did were very bad. Laing said, in a further reply, that he gave information to a member of the Mr. A. Hamilton, because he was a member of the War Cabinet Committee, and in an endeavour to speed up the investigaMr. Anderton: Mr. Hamilton would have been fully aware of everything going on as a member of the War Cabinet? Laing: I don’t know. Mr. Anderton: He would have known the vehicles were going? Laing: He only knew about it when my memorandum came before the War Cabinet. I don’t know what Mr, Hamilton knew. _ .. r . o Answering Mr. P. G. Connolly, he . said that three Army officers who had. approached him gave him the impression that they had explored all channels before they came to him. Details Not Recorded Laing said he based his claim in his petition, that a large proportion ot the vehicles were in a bad state, on an examination of seven or eight. He made a sufficient inspection to satisfy himself, but did not record the details, because he never dreamed the vehicles would be sent. The vehicles he examined had defective steering kingpins and he considered that' if a vehicle was neglected in those essentials there would be neglect elsewhere. He did not think that army vehicles required a warrant of fitness, but they would not be safe on New Zealand roads and would not get a warrant of fitness to operate in this country. He bad not discussed the inquiry recently with Mr Hamilton, and it would be pure coincidence for an article to appear in the newspapers six days before the start ot ♦ the hearing of the present committee. In reply to the chairman, Mr R. M. Macfarlane, he said he did not make any request at the War Cabinet hearing for the findings of the committee, but took it for granted that he would be supplied with them. He had nothing in writing to show how the vehicles which were sent overseas stood up to the conditions, but he was told the Dodge vehicles did not.