IMPRESSMENT OF VEHICLES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23299, 8 April 1941, Page 6

IMPRESSMENT OF VEHICLES

RUMOUR ABOUT PAYMENT DENIED COMMENT ON. DIFFERENCE IN ATTITUDES A denial of rumours about the system of payment for vehicles impressed for military purposes was given to “The Press" yesterday by Mr T. H. Langford, No. 3 , Transport Licensing Authority, who is acting as appeal authority under the impressment scheme.

“We are frequently confronted,” he said, “with a story about payment for vehicles being in War Bonds, Th£ statement is absurd. Various firmsjiave rung me and told me that they - are more than satisfied with cheques already received for their vehicles. The firms get the cheques as promptly as valuing committees can deal with their business.”

Reference was also made by Mr Langford, who is at present handling appeals all day, to the differing attitudes of persons whose vehicles .were impressed. “We get some people,” he said, “who are prepared to put up with anything at all, and others who seem to think 'only in tei’ms of pounds, shillings, and pence. While some adopt a,mercenary attitude, the large section of the public, however, adopt the correct and generous attitude." To show what some wer£ prepared to forgo, Mr Langford quoted the case, of a farmer seven miles from Kaiapoi, whose truck, his only means of transport, had been impressed. The farmer, Mr Langford said, had at first decided to lodge an appeal Shortly before the appointment time, however, the farmer had called on the telephone and told blip that the appeal would not be proceeded with. The farmer had. on considering what his relatives were undergoing in England, decided that he could not continue the appeal and that he would, instead, buy bicycles for himself and his wife.