TRANSPORT CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 10

TRANSPORT CONTROL

NEW COMMISSIONER

FUNCTION IN HIS HONOUR

The Wellington branch of the Chartered Engineers of New Zealand held a gathering last night in honour of the new Commissioner of Transport (Mr. G. Laurenson). Among those present was the Minister of Transport (tha Hon. R. Sefnple), 'who repeated his intention to exterminate the , speed-hog, the drunken'driver, and the hit-and-run motorist. ' • .

Mr. G. G. Callender, who • presided, and also the Minister, paid high tribute to Mr. Laurenson's capabilities. Everyone -would agree, said Mr. Callender, that the Transport Department as newly constituted was doing fine work, and that the Minister would find in Mr. Laurenson a valuable assistant. Mr. Laurenson was a man who said little and did much.

"Although I have not known .Mr. Laurenson very long personally," said Mr. Semple, "I soon came to realise from my association with him in the Transport Department that he- is an extremely careful and competent officer, who never attempts to, put anything on paper until it has been well thought out and has stood the test of thorough investigation." In these days of rapid development and keen internal and external competition, New Zealand must develop a reliable and efficient transport system, said Mr. Semple. The problem was to make the. system-not only efficient but safe for motorist and pedestrian. During the last two months casualties had been reduced nearly 100 per cent.

In reply, Mr. Laurenson said he owed whatever success he had achieved ;to his training in the Public AVprks...De-... partment, where he had been employed for 20 years. "The Department goes in for family training as well;"- he .said, '■ "for in the first ten years of my married life I had nine different homes." The progress of the Transport Department was due mainly to, the personality of the .. Minister, . said v Mr. Laurenson. By his efforts the public had come to realise the seriousness of the annual death-roll through.aicidents. As'for himself, he was .prepare! .as, Mr.. Callender had. kindly, said, to say little and do the job. ■' '