PETROL STOCKS IN N.Z.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 106, 17 February 1950, Page 2

PETROL STOCKS IN N.Z.

RATIONING DISCUSSED BY MINISTERS * DEPUTATION TO RAISE MATTER (P.A.) ' WELLINGTON, Feb. IG. Because the Government had installed its petrol pumps throughout the country and had imported petrol to supply them there was, presumably, at present more petrol in New Zealand than ever before, Mr. R. W. Roydhouse (Carterton) said at to-day’s meeting of the council of the North Island Motor Union.

“The Government must have brought the petrol in from its own sources. It would not have drawn from the existing pool,” said Mr Roydhouse.

Urging a full enquiry into petrol sources, Mr A. Grayson (Auckland) said that many people in the motor unions knew more details about the availability of petrol than did the Ministers concerned, who “accept at face value the statements made by the Home Government.”

Mr Grayson said that it would need very little petrol to abolish petrol rationing—“a mere drop in the sterling petrol pool.” He added that if all the officials engaged in petrol rationing were released to'industry the country would benefit by increased production. “I feel that we in New Zealand must take steps to see if it is at all possible to have rationing abolished,” said the president of the union (Mr W. B. Brown, Palmerston North). In countries like Italy and Germany petrol rationing had been abolished, even although prices were high. “We have had rationing abolished in Australia. Already the leader of one party in England is talking of an easing of rationing there,” concluded Mr Brown.

The meeting decided that a subcommittee of the union endeavour to meet the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr C. M. Bowden) soon to discuss petrol rationing.