MOTOR VOLUNTEERS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."
Sue,— One hears frequently of the generosity and usefulness of motor-eas owners in coming to the assistance of our wounded soldiers, a phase of war charity or activity that is in danger of grave curtailment owing to the price and restrictions in the purchase of petrol and the increased taxes. In various forms, and organized by various Associations, Red Cross work has been done to the immense relief and advantage of the hospitals and at no cost to the Government, and it would be a greater tax on the Government from a financial point of view to replace them than it would be to grant a relaxation of taxation and petrol at favourable rates.
The writer has been connected with a phase of motoring that, since the commencement of the war, has taken shape in the National Motor Volunteers. Raised under the aegis of the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps, the organization has grown hand in hand with the Volunteer Movement. The training is on all fours with the ordinary infantry Volunteer as regards drill and shooting, thus founding their activities on discipline. The movement, conceived on broad lines, and placed at once on a national basis, aims at the co-ordination of all Volunteer motor effort, and presents an opportunity to the patriotic, motorist, who is not eligible for the Regular Army, which should not, in fact cannot, be neglected. Besides many thousands of miles done in the interests of hospitals and in giving health rides to the wounded, the value of the various corps has been proved in aiding recruiting, the transport of troops for local military authorities, and in taking Volunteers to their posts on certain duties. The National Motor Volunteers have no axe to grind, nor have they the interests of any particular Association to foster. Pro Patria is their proud motto, and their ambition is to do all they can to aid the authorities in every possible way. No town that has organized itself against raids can do without the co-operation of Motor Volunteers. Based, as I have said above, on discipline, with their own drill book to assist in the hand- ling of masses of cars, the Motor Volunteers are a valuable asset to the country because under the new Regulations they become also soldiers and can be relied on to answer the call of duty. No other organization can boast of this obligation to serve.
In this country, with its splendid system of roadways, the motor vehicle becomes an instrument of the utmost value ; critical points, often far from reach by railway communication, are by its aid made easily accessible, even to comparatively large bodies of troops— always provided that motorists are organized and trained on military lines. Unfortunately, in this movement also a slump is threatened by the enormous expenses entailed by the causes I have mentioned at the beginning of this letter. It seems a pity that the motorist who has deemed it his patriotic duty to train and fit himself to be of service to his country should be penalized, and I cannot believe it possible that the Government is so blind as not to recognize the great present, and greater potential, value of the Motor Volunteer. Restrict pleasure. riding by all meatus, but leave well alone with the motorist who ceased pleasure-riding when he joined the N.M.V., and has devoted his time and money freely for the benefit of tho nation.
No one will deny the value of the Motor Volunteer. In nearly every city and town it is practically a daily sight to see them carrying out their important duties, and it is a pertinent question to ask if the Govern- ment is prepared to tax the voluntary helper out of existence and undertake the duties he reluctantly, but of necessity, relinquishes. The National Motor Volunteers contain amongst their members many leading citizens of Jsondon and some thirty other cities and counties, who have given their time and money to the perfecting of the organi- sation and to efficiency. They not only have light or ordinary car squadrons, but in certain cities they have heavy transport, such as lorries and commercial vehicles, organized into squadrons. Motor-cyclists perform various useful duties, and have been employed already in emergencies for itatrol and despatch duties. In London a splendid movement is being initiated by the Motor Transport Volunteers branch of the N.M.V. for meeting kayo trains at various termini. The Women's Reserve Ambulance, which takes our maimed soldiers from all the London stations to Roehampton to be fitted with artificial limbs, is also attached to the N.M.V.
With a little encouragement, the country would have at its disposal a still greater number of vehicles of all kinds, and it would lead to further economy in our war expenditure if steps were taken to further the efforts of the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps and their National Motor Volunteers to be useful to the country, by a reasonable encosragement in the reduction of taxation and the cost and supply of petrol. The putting of some scheme of relief into force presents no insuperable difficulties, especially when dealing with a highly organized body such as the National Motor Volunteers, whose Watchword has been co-ordination and efficiency. Time is short, and if the services of Motor Volunteers are to be retained, it behoves the Government to make some pronouncement, and that without delay. Unfortunately, fresh organizations which were contemplated in counties and cities have been held up. Further development of the movement awaits a word of encouragement to proceed with the good work, and a statement that the Treasury will offer the relaxation in taxes and petrol supply that are essential in this patriotic movement.—I am,
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