Essential Transport

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 292, 8 September 1942, Page 4

Essential Transport

Sir,—l quite sympathize with your correspondent from Haywards m his complaint about non-delivery of foodstuffs, while the golfers have petrol to visit the links in that locality. It is, however, only one more instance or tne inequality of sacrifice being imposed on many people these times in the name ot a war effort. A glaring example was . given in a recent issue, when a zoning officer for the North Island stated that where possible all retaU deliveries must cease. In the adjoining column, the No. 1 Licensing Authority, Mr. Phelan, says, regarding horsefloats: ‘ A large amount of capital has been invested by the proprietors, racing provides considerable revenue, and where racing is permitted a restricted horsefloat service should continue." . . Surely there is something wrong about this? The delivery of essential supplies to people, many of whom have no means . of getting goods from town, is more necessary than the transporting round the country of spindle-shanked racehorses whose only mission in life seems to be the separating of eo-called “sports” from their money. Petrol for retail deliveries; has been, in many instances, cut over per cent, in many towns. Further curtailment will drive many retailers out of business, and for Mr. Phelan’s information, they, too, “have considerable capital invested.” Equality of sacrifice is supposed to be one of the keynotes of our war effort; but it is very disheartening )to those of us who are being penalized to see time, rubber and petrol being wasted on race meetings, military and Air Force trucks running almost empty, a fleet of Government cars going many miles from Wellington to meet a returning politician, etc. Such injustice certainly weakens both the spirit and efficiency of our war effort, and I trust you will be sufficiently interested to take the matter ”P vour able pen.—l am, etc., SIOItEKEEPER. , „ Wellington District, September 7.