MOTORS FOR WAR SERVICE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1941, Page 4

MOTORS FOR WAR SERVICE.

(YWNERS of motor vehicles in this district and in other parts V of the Dominion, no doubt will acquiesce _ readily in the impressment of these vehicles for war service? in the event of an emergency. At a time when men are required to give then services, and their lives if need be, in defence of their country, there can be no just objection to the impressment of machines or other property capable of being used effectively as defence equipment.

All that need be asked is that the procedure to be adopted in taking over vehicles, or meantime in shaping plans to that end, should be orderly and just. The only valid objection raised to the requisitioning of motor vehicles for Army use some months ago was that the methods then adopted were confused and led in some instances to inconvenience and cost which might easily have been avoided.

Plans which should obviate any weaknesses or shortcomings of this kind are being made where the impressment of motor vehicles in the event of a defence emergency is concerned. Mr P. Fagan, of Masterton, who has been appointed Controller in tlie Wairarapa district, stated yesterday that the district advisory committee had already made a beginning on the selection of vehicles suitable for Army service and that shortly an examination of the vehicles would be carried out by Transport Department inspectors. Where vehicles were approved notice of intention to impress them would be served on owners, who had the right of appeal within seven days to the Transport Licensing Authority (Mr P. Skoglund). Arrangements on these lines should operate with a minimum amount of friction, ’and since the root question at stake is that of the defence and security of the Dominion, owners of motor vehicles no doubt will pav due heed to the appeal by the Minister of Transport that they should make as little use as possible of their right of appeal.