ARMY REQUIREMENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1941, Page 6

ARMY REQUIREMENTS

IMPRESSMENT SCHEME MINISTER'S REPLY. POSITION IN MASTERTON. The following telegram was received last night by Mr R. H. Williams. Wairarapa Provincial Secretary of the Farmers’ Union, from the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones, in reply to further representations regarding the impressment of trucks and a request for examination locally instead of at Trentham. Mr Williams also asked if it was still necessary for farmers and milk vendors who had a good case for exemption to send their trucks to Trentham for inspection. "i advise all owners who. having grounds of appeal, are not forwarding their trucks to hand in their names to their local postmaster.” stated Mr Williams this morning. "This will enable the compilation of a list of owners holding trucks on appeal and facilitate action by the licensing authority (Mr P. J. Skoglund). Discussing the position of Transport Wairarapa Ltd., the secretary, Mr G. L. Thomas, said the company, which had been formed to assist in the war effort, with a view to saving petrol by cutting out, wherever possible, duplicate running of vehicles, had recently voluntarily agreed, to place six vehicles at the Defence Department's disposal. This was considered the maximum number of vehicles which could be safely spared, taking account of the necessity of having vehicles available to meet peak loads, especially in dealing with the transportation of primary products or stock. Since then, however, the authorities had impressed another four, though one had been rejected. The company was lodging objections to the taking of these vehicles. It was pointed out that the fact that the most modern type of vehicle was selected raised a further problem, as the possibility of getting spare parts for the older kind of vehicles was an uncertain one and the company might find itself without adequate serviceable vehicles. It was obvious that the impressment orders had been issued without knowledge of the working factors of the company and if the matter had been investigated as it should have been there would not have been the pinpricking that had occurred. The task was one for the Licensing Authority. The local secretary of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, Mr D. I B. Curry, declined to make any comment on the impressment. He pointed out that he was awaiting advice from his company as to the number of vehicles impressed.

) “MUST GO ON.” ' STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. . The paramount importance of Army . requirements was emphasised by the > Minister of National Service and t Transport, Mr Semple, when referring i yesterday to the impressment of 'mo- _• tor-vehicles for military purposes. He . said the authorities were still several i hundred short of actual requirements. . Though he could not discuss the numI ber required or the number taken un- . der the impressment scheme, he was . permitted to say that the South Island requirements for the manoeuvres that ■ began on Monday were fairly well ■ met. but the North Island quota haff not been filled. “The impressment scheme must go on as rapidly as possible,” said Mr ; Semple. “I regret any hardship that might bo suffered by individuals, but everyone will agree that the Army requirements are of paramount importance at present. Our local forces cannot be properly trained and operate at maximum efficiency unless they ’ are adequately equipped, and the Gov- , ernment earnestly seeks the co-opera-tion of all concerned in meeting the position. "Some difficulties have arisen through various factors, such as change of ownership and the lack of information regarding the use to which vehicles are being put, but the scheme provides for an immediate appeal to the local licensing authority, and I would emphasise that immediately an owner receives knowledge that his vehicle is under action for impressment he should, if he has any objection, get in touch with the licensing authority at once, even by telephone if the urgency of the case demands it. "To ensure the smooth working of the scheme and to prevent undue inconvenience, it is essential that the owner make this contact with the licensing authority without delay so that in most cases the-objection can be considered and determined before the notice of impressment is issued. "Every endeavour will be made to give owners notice before the notice of impressment is issued, but there may arise, owing to special circumstances, some cases where this cannot be done. To meet these cases and to ensure that definite advice reaches the owner in every case, a notice will accompany every impressment order giving the owner information regarding the appeal procedure. I feel confident that, if the procedure outlined is followed, no difficulties need arise.” APPEALS BY OWNERS NEARLY HALF GRANTED. CASES HEARD AT TRENTHAM. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Many appeals have been lodged by Wellington truck owners against the impressment of their vehicles for military purposes. The appeals have been heard by the district licensing authority, silling at Trentham for the purpose. It is understood that approximately three-quarters of those whose trucks and lorries have been commandeered by the military authorities have voiced objections. Of the appeals heard so far nearly half have been granted. From this it may be supposed that in the majority of cases the appeals have been made on good grounds. The general altitude of the owners is stated to have been co-operative, and their objections reasonable. Consideration has been given to cases in which loss of the vehicle would seriously affect the owner's livelihood, and in particular this lias been the case when appeals have been lodged by one-truck concerns.

The general manager of a fleet of vehicles engaged in work which might be considered to be a public service said that though the majority of the fleet was impressed eventually onlj’

one truck was taken. In any case the firm’s vehicles were included in the Emergency Precautions Scheme, being fitted out as emergency ambulances.