REDUCED ROAD I SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 24889, 31 October 1942, Page 4

REDUCED ROAD I SERVICES

“Zoning, Improvising And Pooling”

(F.A.) WELLINGTON, October 3. Referring to the suspension of certain road transport services, the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, said today that this had been forced upon the authorities through circumstances beyond their control, and it was necessary to take these steps in the interests of the nation as a whole. The Minister added that he had been inundated with requests to intervene in decisions given by licensing authorities, but he made it plain that there would be no interference by him.

The Minister said the three licensing authorities were reviewing licences under his instructions, 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 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 Semple continued, “we are zoning, improvising, pooling and rationalizing wherever possible. It is a mighty big job and a very unpleasant one for all those associated with it, because it involves injury to people and inconvenience to the public.” Mr Semple emphasized that the Dominion’s transport system was the main artery of New Zealand’s economic and social life and had got to be protected and preserved to the maximum. He said it was no use people writing to him about rulings by licensing authorities. “These are properly constituted tribunals,” he said, “and if, after hearing evidence, they are convinced that a service should cease in order to save rubber, a decision is given accordingly. If an operator is dissatisfied he has the right to go to the appeal authority, who is a learned judge.”