DESTRUCTION DENIED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20959, 5 December 1942, Page 2

DESTRUCTION DENIED

SERVICEABLE TYRES STATEMENT BY MINISTER (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. A reply to an allegation made at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, in Auckland by Mr. D. Wrigley concerning the destruction of 400 tyres and tubes by the army last February was made in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones; an urgent question on the subject having- been asked by Mr. W. M. G. Denham (Dab. Invercargill). Mr. Denham asked’ whether, if thg report; were true-, the Minister would take steps to punish the officer or officers responsible; The Minister said’ that 1 in October, .1941, a collection of worn and unserviceable tyres were written off by a board of survey as being past retreading or recapping, and, having no comr mercial value, the tyres were burned'; At that time, Japan had not entered the war and : there was not the same need that existed to-day for the conservation of old rubber. Since October, 1941, no unserviceable tyreshad been disposed of, but they had been stored and held as salvage pending further instructions regarding their disposal.

Mr. Jones added l that he had; sent a telegram to the secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce-ask-ing for full particulars of the allegedhappening so that a full investigation could be made.

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon,' P., Fraser, said that although he agreed that any maladministration or mistakes should be exposed, at- the same time, in common fairness to those' concerned, they should be given. an < opportunity to reply simultaneously.