MACHINE GUN CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4001, 6 August 1915, Page 4

MACHINE GUN CAMPAIGN.

CAN' THEY BE PROCURED • DEFENCE MINISTER UNC E RTA !!K IXQUIin.ES TO BE MADE HU G ADDING SUPPLY. The campaign towards raising iundi;. to supply machine guns for the use of the New Zealand forces at the 70mdanelles was advanced another stage yesterday, when Mr E. H. Mam- sot out on a. canvas of the coup try districts. Ihe collector met with gratifying success, hut was faced with the query as to whether machine guns could fw obtained. Two further offers were nr ceiveil to supply machine guns yestorday, but in each instance the' offers were nuyle dependent upon whether the guns could be procured and that they would be devoted to the service of the New Zealanders.

In order to set the question of Mipply at rest, Mr John Townlev yesterday morning wired as followk 1o the Defence Minister :

"Is it possible to procure machine guns for use of local reinforcements p Have conditional promises dependent on answer. Kindly reply promptly —To will eye’ Mr Townlev received the following reply from the Hon. James Allen ‘‘in reply to your telegram of August •3, 1 shall be pleased to a . mp-imy for purchase of machine guns, and telegraphing High Commissioner to make inquiries about supply.—J Allen.’’ ) I n reply to His Worship the M;.-.-: s inquiry respecting the opening of ;x machine, gun fund at. Gisborne, idle Minister for Defence (Won. James Allen) has telegraphed, directing the money to he paid into the public account to the credit of the Empire Defence Fund, Mr Humphrey Bayly has dons-iod a machine gun to the Now Zealand Government for the use of our troops at the Dardanelles. This makes tho fifth machine gun donated by Gisborne residents within a week, the other contributors being Mr M. B. Maudor, Captain W. H. Tucker, Mr J. it. Reynolds, and Mr K. Williams. With the two conditional promt***,,, this makes seven machine guns 'which have been promised in Gisbdrno within the past week. At least throe ot these are conditional upon tho machines being procurable and thoir being sent direct to the Now Zealanders at the Dardanelles. Mr Mann informed a "Times'’ :it> qiorter last night that the fooling ’waa that donors wore quite prepared to donate machine guns if they wore obtainable, but they wore not prepared to hand over - £2150 to have it ssvaurped in tho general fund. /Tho High Commissioner’s reply.as rto w hether machine guns can he supplied or not will bo awaited with no little interest. !