TRANSPORT APPEALS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23330, 16 May 1941, Page 8

TRANSPORT APPEALS

Minister Explains Position

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 15. The Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) said to-day that apparently there had been some misunderstanding concerning, the appointment of Sir Francis Frazer as adviser to the Minister in dealing with appeals under the transport legislation. The reason for this appointment was that because of the greater urgency of other matters there had been no opportunity during the last session of Parliament to introduce legislation which would enable Sir Francis Frazer to be set up as the direct appeal authority, instead of the Minister. The Minister explained that nevertheless he still proposed to take the first opportunity of introducing the necessary legislation, and in ‘the meantime would give the very greatest weight to the advice tendered him by Sir Francis Frazer on any appeal. “I want to make this clear,” said Mr Semple, “because certain sections of the press seem to have the impression that I intend to Carry on permanently as the appeal authority.. I have no such intention. The present arrangement is purely temporary, pending consideration of the necessary amending legislation by Parliament, “I feel also that I should make it clear that when I stated my intention of relinquishing my duties as appeal authority the road transport industry wont out of its way to express its confidence in me and, urged me to carry on the job, I was unable to agree with this, as my position in holding the office of Minister for Railways would have been an invidious one and untenable.”