PETROL PRICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 55, 28 August 1939, Page 8

PETROL PRICE

TOO HIGH IN COUNTRY MP HULTQUIST TRIES FOR REDUCTION The Hon D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, was recently asked by Mr A. G. Hultquist in Parliament whether he Avtmld sec up a committee to investigate and advise him on the question of a uni_ vcrsal freight-paid price for petrol. Mr Hultquist quoted prices in his electorate ranging from 2s 6%d for second grade in Whakatane and district, to 3s a gallon at Tikitiki, which he described as the most glaring example of hardship in New Zea. land. Mr Sullivan replied that the matter formed the subject of an investigation by his department last year. He appreciated the points raised, but said that to effect such a scheme Avould mean, an increase in the price of petrol in the main centres of something in the A'icinity of 2d a gallon. The GoAernment had carefully considered the problem, but did not intend to raise the price of petroj to giA'e effect to Ml Hult. quist's request. Mr Hultquist said that according to the Minister the effect of such a scheme Avould mean an increase of 2d per gallon in the price of petrol in the main centres:, but he sa\A r no season Avhy that should constitute a Aalid objection. At present, the price of petrol in the four main centres is 2s 3d and 2s 4d per gallon for first and second grade petrol respectiA'ely. At Ncav Plymouth the prices are 2s 5d and 2s 6d. It Avas only fair to state that there is a, prospect of a reduction in the price taking place in that town as a result of the fact that two companies are iioav importing petrol direct from oA-erseas. If the cost of petrol in the cities Avas.to be increased by 2d then the city people Avould then only be paying as much as is at present being paid in New Plymouth, Avhich. is a large secondary toAA'n, and. the centre of a very large dairying district. But such an arrangement Avould allow substantial reductions to be made in other places as for instance a reduction of l%d per gallon at Whakatane. per gallon at Edgecumbe, 4d per gallon at Matawai, and at Tolaga Bay 5d pr-r gallon at Hicks Bay and 6d per gallon at Tikitiki. ENCOURAGING SETTLERS. The policy of the GoAernment, surely Avas one of encouraging people to stay on the land in isolated places, but for many reasons they had always found it A'ery difficult to do so. In such places people Ave-:e Avithout the usual facilities of easr access to place.: of amusement they had many miles to send their children to school and other problems such as a highrr cost for most commod'ties. Mr Hultquist said he I>'_ licA'ed in the philosophy of "Bear ve one anothers' burdens' 7 and that would lie good Socinl'st policy to make the price of petrol uniform throughout the Dominion. As he Avas speaking he held in his hand three foolscap sheets of goods of many kinds, from cosmetics to motor cars and motor car parts tint are sold at the same price ail over New Zealand; and he asked Avhv the same principle should not obtain in regard to the price of petrol and fertilisers. In spite of the unsatisfactorv, and : n fact discouraging, reply, he Avould pursue the matter further, and he again appealed to other member:* of the House to assist him in his adAocacv for a fixed universal price. He pointed out that people in backblocks could int. ill this machine age do Avitliout petrol wh'lc they did not object to paying petrol tax. they did, like he hints.-If strongly object haA-ing the tax tacked on to a price which Avas already, in some places. 9 >:l Per gallon more than th? price in the cities.