FUTURE OF BOARD.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19621, 31 January 1936, Page 3

FUTURE OF BOARD.

Government's Policy. MOT OKI STS CONCERNED. SEEKING TALK WITH MINISTER. Apprehension at the reeent statement by the Minister lor Transport, Mi 1 . K. Semple, in regard to the future of the Main Highways Board, was expressed at the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union at Wellington on Wednesday. The chairman, Mr. W. A. O’Callaghan, said he had hoped to bring to the meeting some idea of the new Government’s policy in regard to main highways. The Minister for Transport was not ready to meet them on the matter yet —he had not ‘‘come down to tin tacks” himself in regard to the new policy. Mr. G. W. Hutchison (Auckland) said there was one reference the Minister made which he thought the union should bear in mind. The Minister's'idea, apparently, was that the board should be reorganised in such a way as to bring it more under Government control. The Government already had four representatives on the board, which comprised seven members, and he thought the executive of the union should watch developments very closely to see whether the Minister proposed a change in the personnel, or whether tlve idea was to deprive the board of its 11011-political aspect. Mr. E. A. Baft (Wellington), said he regarded the statement as most serious. He did not know whether it would be possible, but it might be that the secretary and president could have a private talk with the [Minister.

The chairman said he had been trying for three days to get an interview with the Minister, but lie had not been successful. After further discussion, a proposal to suggest to the Minister that the union would appreciate the courtesy of discussing with him any proposed alterations, was adopted.