TAKING OVER OF VEHICLES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 12

TAKING OVER OF VEHICLES

100 Delivered To Army At Trentham TO CONTINUE TODAY AND NEXT WEEK

Approximately 100 motorvehicles were handed over Iq the Army authorities at Trentham Camp yesterday as the first batch to be taken over under the recentlyannounced scheme of impressment. The majority of the vehicles are trucks suitable for the conveyance of troops. The handing over of vehicles will continue today and next week.

There was a fair percentage of motor-cycles and a few motor-cars among those handed over yesterday, but the primary requirement is for troop-carrying vehicles. Owners were required to deliver their vehicles at intervals at Trentham from 9 a.m. yesterday. Appeals are being dealt with by the district Transport Authority at the camp as soon as possible after the vehicles are brought there. The Army authorities desire to make this known to all who may have their vehicles impressed as it was to suit owners’ convenience that this arrangement was made. Anyone who feels he can present a reasonable case against the taking of his vehicle may appeal to -the Licensing Authority sitting at the camp where he is required to make delivery. Apart from this, there is also the right to appeal regarding the price fixed on impressment.

Vehicles were also being handed over at other camp centres in the Central Military District. It was originally intended that the vehicles should first be looked over by a Transport Department official as agent for the impressing officer (Army) and an Army officer before being sent out to the camps,' but owing to the time factor the vehicles are being required for delivery at the camp before inspection.

It is not considered advisable to give the number of vehicles to be impressed. The vehicles become part of the Army mechanized strength and any information of such is of a military nature. Demands on Owners.

A city firm reported late last night that its only two trucks had been requisitioned at last-minute notice. One Impressment order was received at 4.45, shortly after the firm’s usual closing hour, the other not till 9.45 last night. The trucks were ordered to be delivered before 9 a.m. today. They were already loaded up ready for today’s deliveries and the drivers had gone home and could not be contacted till this morning. What, asked an executive officer of the firm, were they expected to do? Another man engaged on Government housing sub-contracts received notice at 8 p.m. to hand over his truck—the only one he has—‘by 5 p.m. today. He stated that without his truck he could not carry on. A Wellington firm received notice late yesterday afternoon, without previous warning, that its truck had to be at Trentham today. Though the notice given has been shorter than originally intended, this has been necessitated by the exigencies of the situation. Official Documents.

in the case of a motor-cycle impressed the documents relating to the impressment stated: In the warrant of impressment issued under the Motor Vehicles Impressment Emergency Regulations, 1939, the owner of ’the motor-vehicle required is “hereby commanded to deliver the undermentioned motor-vehicle to the officer at the vehicle-collecting centre not later than 9 a.m. on Friday, the seventh dav of March, 1941.” Then followed a description of the motor-vehicle, registration number, make, engine number, evidently compiled from the official register of such vehicles

The notice goes on as follows: “Particulars of equipment impressed—The attached form (specified) must be completed, with registration certificate, current warrant of fitness, and all unused petrol coupons, delivered with the vehicle.” “Notes—(l) AU accessories, fittings, and equipment belonging to the vehicle are deemed to be part of the vehicle, and must be delivered therewith. “(2) Form M.V.I-2 is attached hereto and must be completed, signed and verified as indicated, therein and delivered with the vehicle to the officer in charge of the vehicle collecting centre. “(3) Payment for the property will be made forthwith after a valuation has been made and notified to you and accepted, or (failing acceptance or agreement) after the amount has been fixed by arbitration. “(4) Your attention is drawn to the instructions printed on the back of this warrant.

“(5) Failure to comply with the requirements renders you liable to fine or imprisonment.” On the back of the warrant instructions are given to drivers as to the course to pursue in case of a breakdown

Form No. 7 sets out the usual particulars in respect to the motor-vehicle that is being commandeered. Form No. 3 has to do witli insurance, and Form M.V.I-2 gives th- fullest possible particulars- of the motor-vehicle concerned.

SELECTION SYSTEM NOT MADE CLEAR

More Notices To Go Out In North Island

The serving of notices on the owners of certain motor-vehicles that they must hand them over to the Army commenced several days ago. A staff is busy in the Motor Registration Branch of tbe Post Office in Wellington sending out notices to the owners of the vc hides that are to be impressed By yesterday they had completed the South Island and were working on Wellington and next week will com plete the North Island. No indication was obtainable yeste? day from the Post Office officials of tiie system that lias been adopted in the selection of vehicles. Though it is too early yet to deduct with certain ty from the notices that have been served the types of vehicles that arc favoured by the Army, it seems that, the Army is to specialize in trucks of three most popular makes that have been manufactured in the last three jears. The officer in charge, of the work declined to state that the owner of any make or model would be ini mime or confirm the popular estimate

of the number of vehicles to be com mandeered throughout New Zealand, indicating that the instructions tho Post Office had received were not ne-cessarily final. That further vehicles might have to be called up after the batch of notices that is now being issued has gone out seems clear from the fact that some of those now being impressed will be found to be essential to the life of the community or not as suitable for the Army as they appear from the records While the authorities in Wellington can judge from the description of the vehicle and the occupation of its owner whether it is in the interests of the State t-o leave the vehicle where it is they cannot be certain. It is understood that transport licensing authorities are assisting in the selection of vehicles, so that some of the vehicles now being impressed piay be released. Under the regulations there is no appeal from impressment.

Though the impressment of vehicles lias only now come vividly before the public similar action has been taken previously. The Government has had (he pojver to do it since soon after the outbreak of war and the power has been used to obtain vehicles from deal ers’ stocks.

Mr. E. Al. Bardsley. secretary of the Ancillary Transport Association —the organization of owners of private vehicles —said he had heard the complaint that not enough discrimination had been shown in the selection of trucks for impressment. For instance, a tow-ton truck used by a fairly large milk vending firm in the Hutt Valley for tbe collection of milk front farms had been impressed. It seemed that the Army's need for trucks was not so urgent that one being used for such a purpose should lie taken from its normal use. Some of the members had received notices to hand over vehicle’ a few hours later without previous warning.

NEW VEHICLES TAKEN FROM SHOWROOMS

Dominion Si’hciai Shrvhi

WANGANUI, March 7,

Warrants for the impressment of privately-owned motor-lorries and motor-cycles for the army have already been served on owners in lite Wanganui district, but the numbers cannot be divulged. Recently new motor-trucks and lorries in showrooms in Wanganui were valued and commandeered. but no second-hand vehicles were taken over at the time. One motor firm in Wanganui today received an impressment warrant in respect of a new motor-truck already, leased to the army authorities in Waiouru camp. This action, the manager said, seemed unnecessary, as the army already had the use of tile vehicle on its own terms. The motor trade rather than private owners would be affected most by tbe -impressment system, he said.