ROAD TRANSPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 105, 30 October 1942, Page 3

ROAD TRANSPORT

SUSPENDED SERVICES

"TRIMMING TO BONE"

Referring today to the suspen* sion of certain road transport services, the Minister of Transport (JVIr, Semple) said that this and other action had been forced upon the authorities through circumstances beyond their control and that it was necessary to take these steps in the interests of the nation as a whole.

The three licensing authorities were reviewing licences under his instructions, said Mr. Semple, and this was being done for no other purpose than to preserve commercial tyres for essential) services. In normal times many of the services were no doubt necessary and desirable/but the stage had been reached wher^ it was necessary to "trim right down to the bone" in order to maintain those services that would allow the business of the nation to be carried on. "In addition," the Minister continued, "we are zoning, improving, pooling, and rationalising wherever possible. It is a mighty big job and a very unpleasant one for all those associated with it, because it involves injury to people and inconvenience to the public. "TASK FORCED UPON US." '•I want to emphasise this fact, that the task has been forced upon us through conditions over which we have no control. We are just victims. Our transport system constitutes the bulwarks of production and distribution. Upon it the people depend for distribution of their food. Upon it depends the feeding of the soldiers, and also the evacuation of our people should war come our way. In other words, it is the main artery of oul'1 economic and social life, and it has got to be protected and preserved to the maximum. If pur transport system crashes the nation crashes with it." ; To give some idea of the gravity of the situation in countries where New Zealand derived her supplies, the Minister referred to United States and Canadian reports, and said that steps taken in those two countries were more sweeping than action taken in the Dominion. "We; depend on these countries for supplies," continued Mr. Semple, "and the pliMn fact is that we can- ,, not asfc them to make concessions to us that are not given in ttyosc countries, particularly as we arc the buyers ana they are the sellers." NO INTERFERENCE. Mr. Semple said he had been inundated with letters and requests asking him to interfere with rulings by the licensing authorities and that kind of thing. "I want to give notice," said Mr. Semple, "that it is no use people writing letters of this kind to me. There are properly constituted tribunals, and if, after hearing evidence, they are convinced that a service should cease in order to save rubber,, a decision is given accordingly. If tl.e operator is dissatisfied he has the right to go to the appeal authority, who is a learned Judge. "The plain facts are that we are in a tigjit corner, just as other countries in the British Commonwealth are, and we have got to be big enough, unselfish enough, and patriotic enough to measure up to our responsibilities, to face inconveniences and hardships, to face anything as long as the nation survives. The issue today whether we shall control New Zealand in the future or' whether the Japanese will, and reference to maps and the cable news shows how they have spread their wings across the Pacific like a huge vulture."

A Gazette notice published yesterday announces that their Honours the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, Mr. Justice: Blair. Mr. Justice Kennedy, Mi\ Justice Callan, and Mr. Justice Northcroft have been appointed to the First Division of the Court of Appeal, and Sir Michael Myers, Mr. Justice Blair, Mr. Justice Smith, Mr. Justice Johnston, and Mr. Justice Fair to the Sscotiji. JDiyisisr^