TAKING OF TRUCKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1941, Page 6

TAKING OF TRUCKS

PROTEST AGAINST METHOD EMPLOYED IMPRESSMENT FOR DEFENCE PURPOSES. EXPLANATION BY MINISTER. The sudden impressment of motor trucks in the Wairarapa for defence purposes by methods described as hasty and ill-conceived was the subject of a protest made by a meeting •of farmers held in Masterton last night. Mr Hugh Morrison, president of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union, presided. The Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, Mr J. Robertson, member for Masterton, and Mr M. M. Simpson, Postmaster, were present.

According to lhe explanation of the Minister the plan originally decided on for impressment was not' carried out owing to pressure of time. If owners considered they had grounds for appeal they did not need to act on the warrants. "The farmers,” said Mr Morrison, opening the meeting, “are as patriotic as anyone. They have always given of their best, but they consider that the conscription of their trucks on a few moments’ notice is not right. This is going the right way to disorganise production. The sowing of superphosphates and a great deal of other farm work is being carried out' at present by farmers with their trucks. If trucks must be taken, then their impressment should be on the lines of the conscription of manpower—they should be balloted for. and adequate notice given before delivery is required.” Stating that he was an invalid living in town, Mr H. Bennett said the truck he owned was his only means of conveyance to and from his farm and it was used for all his farm work. His

farm work would be completely disorganised if his truck were taken. He had not been able to deliver his truck to Trentham.

Mr Robertson: "How many here have had their trucks requisitioned?” A few farmers said their trucks had been impressed but returned as unsuitable.

Mr L. T. Daniell said the position in the Wairarapa was that notices for the impressment of trucks were not sent out till 9 o’clock on Saturday morning, and yet it was demanded that they should be delivered by 5 o’clock on Saturday evening. On top of that he was told that out of the 30-odd vehicles impressed, 20 had been returned as unsuitable or because of an appeal. Mr Robertson: "But there is no appeal.”

Mr Daniell: “You’ll'pardon me. Mr Robertson. The trucks were arranged into three queues at Trentham. If unsatisfactory they went into one queue. If the vehicles were suitable the owners were asked if they wished to appeal, and if no appeal was lodged, they went into another queue. If there was an appeal, the matter was dealt with immediately. However, the point is that the notice given was too short, the point of dtelivery too far away, and the method of selection illogical. We want to assist, and we can offer suggestions for obviating anything like this again.”

The Minister said that the vehicles were required for mechanised manoeuvres to complete the training of Territorials. “When a committee of Cabinet went into the matter of impressment, it was decided that consideration must be given to the needs of the owner.” said Mr Jones. "If a man needed his truck for carting milk or cream to the factory, or doing urgent farm work, then we decided there would be no interference with his work. However, our original arrangements were not carried out,” said the Minister. The committee was up against it lor time, as the manoeuvres for which the vehicles are required are to be held next week, and apparently it was thought that the method employed in this case, would give quicker results. The method laid down was for an inspection of suitable vehicles to be carried out by inspectors on the spot 1 , and only those which could be taken with a minmum of hardship to be impressed.”

The Minister emphasised that the district impressment officer had acted solely on instructions from Wellington "However.” he said, "those who think they cannot spare their trucks should carry on with their farm work or cream carting till this matter has been straightened out. I realise that because another method of impressment was used, a certain amount: of unrest has been caused, but the impressment warrants need not be acted on if the owner of the vehicle thinks he has grounds lor appeal. Every opportunity wili be given the appellant of stating his case.” Mr Morrison asked if their case could be stated. Mr Jones: “There is a session of the appeal committee tomorrow, and I will take the matter up then.” In reply to a question as to whether the vehicles were to be bought by the Government, the Minister replied in the affirmative.

Mr Jones was accorded a vote of thanks for attending the meeting and for his explanation.

ARMY STATEMENT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MANNER. OF TAKING. WELLINGTON. This Day. An objector who telephoned the Army Department was told that they had already received about 400 rings of the nature during the day. He was informed by an army officer that the military authorities had merely intimated their requirements of vehicles to the Government department concerned. and were not responsible for the manner in which the vehicles had been selected or on which the impressment notices had been served.