THE MERCHANT MARINE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1944, Page 4

THE MERCHANT MARINE

It was interesting to read in your paper a short while ago that the authorities had refused to grant petrol to merchant seamen on leave. Surely these men who risk their lives each minute of each 24 hours in bringing this and other essential commodities to our shores are entitled to more consideration, than the Territorial personnel one sees running around the country every week-end wasting petrol and tyres in pursuit of their own pleasures. Is it right that Army vehicles should be used by officers for travelling anything up to 100 miles for weekend fishing trips and visits to their homes? The public who are deprived of their week-end motoring are entitled to know why the Army Department allows this misuse of their transport in the north to go on. If a private car owner were noticed travelling each week-end over a certain route of, say, 50 miles, he would be questioned by the traffic inspector. Does the Army have any control over the use of their vehicles, or is it left to the local Transport Authority to check what he may consider to be misuse. If some responsible official were to make a check of Army petrol used other than on Army business m this area I am sure that the wastage discovered would be staggering. A TWO-GALLON DRIVER.