IMPRESSMENT OF VEHICLES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23302, 12 April 1941, Page 10

IMPRESSMENT OF VEHICLES

SUGGESTED SCHEME FOR DOMINION PROCEDURE IN ENGLAND IN GREAT WAR Suggestions for a scheme of impressment of motor vehicles for military needs were described to a reporter of “The Press” last evening by Mr R A. Snelgrove. of Christchurch, who said he was responsible for drafting the conditions of an impressment scheme carried out by the War Department in England in 1914. Mr Snelgrove said his attention had been drawn to a statement by the secretary of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. Roy Smith) that representations had been made to the Government for the introduction of a better scheme. The essentials of any scheme, Mi Snelgrove added, were that the military authorities should know where they could lay their hands at short notice on vehicles suitable for their requirements, and that the owners of vehicles should have the fullest possible knowledge of the liability of their vehicles to impressment, arid the terms and conditions under which they would be taken. The English scheme, he considered, fulfilled all these requirements. In January, 1914, eight months before the outbreak of war, a scheme was drafted for the enrolment of suitable lorries so that they could be impressed by the War Department if ever mobilisation became neceasary. The conditions were published in April before enrolment began. Under the scheme lorries were enrolled as suitable for use, and the owner was required to enter into a contract to maintain his vehicle for a period of three years at a standard of efficiency prescribed by an inspector of the War Department. In return he was paid the sum of £3O on enrolment, and a further £BO spread over the three years in six half-yearly instalments. The department had the right, at any time during the three years, to impress the vehicles into its service. In such event a purchase price was payable, which was arrived at by an agreed computation. This was the original (new) purchase price, subject to a deduction of 7$ per cent, for every half-year since the date of the original purchase, but with the addition of a compensation of 25 per cent, of the net amount thus determined. For a vehicle bought two years previously for £6OO the depreciation would be £IBO, giving a net price of £420. The addition of £lO5 compensation brought the price paid on impressment to £525. Safeguards Provided As a safeguard against unfairness or abuse, it was provided that the final price payable on impressment should in no case exceed the original purchase price or be less than 30 per cent, of it. Under this scheme, Mr Snelgrove stated, the War Department secured a icgister of suitable vehicles which were immediately available at call, and provided *he nucleus of a fleet. The enrolment contract provided the required standard of efficiency and the department was relieved of the cost of maintenance, garage,' and personnel. The owner was prepared for exigency for which he was amply compensated, and by the publication of the terms and conditions of the scheme, reasons for surprise and dissatisfaction were removed. For New Zealand n similar scheme could be adopted, but he suggested that two alternative schemes might be employed in addition to the one already described. The first of these was a scheme of voluntary enrolment under which owners of vehicles could place them at the disposal of the authorities. They would not be required to maintain them at the same standard of efficiency, but merely in reasonable repair. In such case there would be no contract and no subsidy, but the vehicles would be liable to impressment on the same terms. The second scheme was a straight-out impressment to be carried out under the conditions described. Further details were necessary so that all possible requirements could be met with the least inconvenience, Mr Snelgove added. He was giving these questions close study with a view to making suggestions to meet them.