TAKING OF TRUCKS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21367, 11 March 1941, Page 4

TAKING OF TRUCKS

MINISTER EXPLAINS LITTLE TIME GIVEN j HARDSHIP TO BE AVOIDED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday In a statement after a conference dealing with the impressment of vehicles, the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, said he wanted owners to appreciate the fact that it was a rush job and it was not the intention .of the transport committee handling the matter or of the Government to impose hardship if it could be avoided. If that had been done it would be righted. The conference was a representative one, those present including Mr Semple, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, the committee handling the situation, transport representatives, military authorities and Mr A. P. O’Shea, secretary of the Farmers’ Union. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, was also present for a time. “There have been some difficulties, and they have been created by the limited time the Army gave us. The Army, however, assures us it was unavoidable,” Mr Semple stated. “The fact remains that the Army must have these vehicles, but what I want to do is to get the vehicles with a minimum amount of hardship to the individual and the least disturbance as far as transport is concerned.” Machinery would now be set up to avoid a repetition of the position that had arisen, the Minister added. The committee had gone into conference today and any case where undue hardship was proved would be considered. “As to the future, we propose to take a proper inventory of every vehicle in New Zealand and earmark them in order of preference. The vehicles that will be commandeered in future will be those that can be best spared. The owners will be given sufficient time to make other arrangements.” Mr Semple pointed out that he was only making a brief statement of the position. A considered statement would be issued later.