MR. SEMPLE IRATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23915, 15 March 1941, Page 8

MR. SEMPLE IRATE

"HELPING THE 'ABMY" COURTESY AND DISCRETION MEETING URGENT DEMANDS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Friday Strong exception was taken by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, to statement published by the New Zealand Hekald to-day on the subject of the impressment of motorvehicles. Mr. Semple said that not only were many of the statements grossly incorrect, but he thought that the attitude of the paper was a very unhelpful one. "In the first plnce it was stated in the article that a well-thought-out scheme was prepared some time ago and that a later scheme placed the impressment of vehicles under the control of the Transport Department," tho Minister said. "This is incorrect. The scheme in operation in Auckland for impressment of motor-trucks provides for the vehicle inspectors of the Transport Department to obtain the owner's permission to carry out an inspection of his vehicle. 'Hie owner is asked to indicate on the inspector's report form his concurrence with tho report on the mechanical details. Instructions to Authority "To ensure that only those vehicles that can bo readily spared from the transport industry aro selected, I instructed my licensing authority to consider each case on its merits. The report forms, after being perused by a committee in Wellington, were then passed on to the Post and Telegraph Department to arrange for the delivery of the vehicles at tho respective collection centres. "I cannot understand the statement that the plan which 1 have outlined above has given way to any 'new issue of orders' arising from any alleged decision that the impressment of vehicles should bo undertaken by tho Transport Department," Mr. Semple continued. "1 wish to make it quite clear that none ot the officers in the Transport Department aro impressment officers, and that the onl.v person authorised to impress motorvehicles is tho chief impressment officer under the appropriate emergency regulations. Tho officers of my department aro principally concerned with the selection and examination of motorvehicles. The Right ot Appeal "Criticism has been made of the fact that the procedure is 'somewhat roundabout.' but it is my desire that tin public should have every oppor- | tniiity of stating their case, before the j licensing authority in order that vehicles essential to the transport industry should not be taken," the Minister added. "If toiadvise a British subject of his rights to appeal is slightingly referred to as 'an open invitation to appeal,' then this miserable criticism is not worthy of further comment by me. "Tho article makes reference to the fact that a certain amount of congestion occurred at the Licensing Authority's' office, but common sense should indicate that, due to the short time available, such difficulties were inevitable. War is not a go-as-you-please game." Mr. Semple also stated that he still sees long queues of people at football matches and picture shows, but no comment is raised, but where there is a case of a citizen being given his right to appeal against the impressment of a vehicle, so necessary for the training of men in New Zealand, then the newspaper sees lit to ofler this in a form of criticism. No Use of "Iron Fist" "I have discussed the points raised in the outburst with the responsible officers of my department and it is difficult to see. in view of all circumstances. how the obstacles about which so much has appealed in the press could have been avoided without using the 'iron list.' " the Minister said. "This I am not prepared to do. I have heard of no cases where any member of the public has considered that the officers of my department have acted other than courteously and discreetly. "In assisting the Army in getting the vehicles for training purposes, these officers have worked long hours in trying circumstances, using tact and doing all within their power to meet tho urgent demands of the Army Department, and the best they aro entitled to is helpful co-operation, not carping, irresponsible criticism."