ROAD SERVICES

Grey River Argus, 31 October 1942, Page 6

ROAD SERVICES

FURTHER SUSPENSIONS. UNAVOIDABLE. SAYS MR. SEMPLE. P.A. WELLINGTON. Oct. 30. The suspension of road transport services was referred to bv the Transport Minister. Hon. Mr. R. Semple, who said the three licensing authorities were reviewing the licenses under his instructions and this was being done for no other purpose than to preserve commercial tyres for essential services. Review was forced upon the authorities through circumstances beyond their control. He had been inundated with requests to intervene in decisions by Licensing Authorities, but would not do so. m normal times many of the services j were, no doubt, necessary and desirable, but a stage had been reached when 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,” Mr. Semole continued,” we are zoning, improvising, pool’ng 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 and inconvenience to the public." He emphasised that the Dominion’s transport system was the mam artery of New Zealand’s economic and social life, and. had got to be protected and preserved to the maximum. Mr. Semple said that it was no use people writing to him in connection with rulings by the licensing authorities. “These 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 any operator is dissat'sfdd. he h.-s 'the right to go to the Anpeal Authority, who is a learned judge.”