TRANSPORT SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 31, 31 October 1942, Page 8

TRANSPORT SERVICES

Reasons For Suspension CONSERVATION OF TYRES

Beasons for the suspension of certain road transport services were given yesterday by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple. He said that this and other action had been forced on the authorities through circumstances beyond their control and that it tvas 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 htld 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.

“Our transport system constitutes the bulwarks of production and distribution,” said-Mr. Semple. “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 conie our way. In other words, it is the main artery of our economic and social life, and it has got to be protected and preserved to the maximum. If our transport system crashes the nation crashes with it.”

Mr. Semple said he had been inundated with letters and requests 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 the operator is dissatisfied ho has the right to go to the apical authority, who is a judge. “The plain facts, are that we are in a tight corner, just its other countries in the British Commonwealth are, ana we have got to be big enough, unselfish enough, and- patriotic- enough to measure up to. our responsibilities, to face inconveniences and hardships, ro face anything as long as the vives. The issue today « whether we shall control New Zealand 111 ture or whether the Japa*' reference to maps and the cable t shows how they have spread hew wings across the Pacific like a huge vultube.”