TRANSPORT MINISTER

Evening Post, Issue 30, 4 August 1936, Page 8

TRANSPORT MINISTER

MR. SEMPLE PRAISED

MOTOR UNION CRITICISED

'"We have never had a Minister of' Transport so enthusiastic, so receptive, and so willing and anxious to do everything possible in connection with road welfare as; the. Hon. Mr. Semple, and we ha^e not taken advantage of it," said Mr. ( E. A. Bait, chairman of the Automobile Association (Wellington), at the monthly executive meeting of the association last night. / . ''The change of Government has been highly favourable to our work,"' continued Mr. Batt. "We are now finalising matters that we have been striving for over the past 'twelve years. Never before has such an opportunity presented itself as with the present Government and the present Minister of Transport to achieve things that wo have, been working on for .years. I am' disgusted, however, when I think what little co-operation and encouragement has been given the Minister by the North Island Motor Union. We have fallen down on our jobs. , Matters such as the National Safety Campaign were enthusiastically supported by the automobile associations and were sent forward to the Motor-Union, since when "nothing has been done about them. Over £6000 is waiting to be used on this campaign alone, and yet we have allowed the whole matter | to" die a natural death. ■ The Minister is advocating exactly the same things as the association is advocating, and I yet.He has been given practically no support.- ••' The' whole matter' reflects ' very badly on the North Island Motor ' Union." ' TIME FOR A BREAKAWAY. The Wellington Automobile Association " ought to consider whether , it, should go' on contributing to the funds ' of the N.1.M.U., said Mr. Batt. As far as he could see they might as well keep their money. The questions were .national ones; the N.I.M.U. was supposed to be a' national body and the result was that the Wellington Automobile ; Association was unable to usurp the function of the N.I.M.U. and ' offer the Minister direct support. The time had come for a complete breakaway from the policy of having the ! headquarters of the N.I.M.U. at Hawera.' A lot of the work was political, and Wellington was obviously the best centre. Witli the head office of the N.I.M.U. at Hawera, a great deal of the funds were taken up wi,th travelling expenses; and in any case. Hawera was not in close touch with immediate .problems. The last six months had been the worst in the history of the N.1.M.U., and he was very disgusted to think that this had occurred with such an enthusiastic Minister as Mr. Semple in office.'

It was agreed to bring the whole matter up at the forthcoming N.I.M.U. conference, for which delegates were appointed; ,

Mr. Semple was made a member of the Automobile Association.