WORK OF TRANSPORT SECTION

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23353, 12 June 1941, Page 4

WORK OF TRANSPORT SECTION

GOVERNMENT DELAY CRITICISED Criticism of delay by the Government in making known its decisions about transport arrangements under the Emergency Precautions Scheme in the city was expressed in an interview yesterday by Mr T. E. Wiltshire, controller of the transport section of the Christchurch organisation. Mr Wiltshire was commenting on editorial criticism of the city’s emergency precautions scheme published in “The Press” yesterday morning. “Men who have given their services to the scheme will not tolerate this unsatisfactory position and waste their time while week after week of unnecessary delay is caused through lack of Government authority. Commenting on the criticism in “The Press” Mr Wiltshire stated that as far as the matter affected his section, he was to a certain extent in agreement with the remarks published. He stated that his committee consisted of keen and able men who were willing to give freely of their time to determine the problems of emergency transport. Although certain proposals had been put forward regarding a total transport scheme on a national basis which might supersede any existing arrangements, it was not visualised that such a national scheme would in any way upset or duplicate existing organisations, but would combine airtransport requirements into a complete and comprehensive plan. This would also serve to prevent overlapping in which vehicle owners were called upon to supply their trucks in numerous places at one time. The Transport Committee of the Emergency Precautions Scheme had been working along these lines and all the parties affected by the proposals had agreed that the plans submitted to the Government Were both necessary and desirable. “Unfortunately, however, the delay is being caused by the Government’s lack of approval which is necessary before the scheme can be fully implemented,” he added.