BENZINE PRICES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 122, 12 February 1940, Page 5

BENZINE PRICES

COMPARISON MADE TIME ENOUGH YET TO COMPLAIN With the soaring of the price of petrol in the last; few months, the cost being increased by levies for defence and higher freight charges, etc., it is well to point, out that the price per gallon iis still a long way behind that obtaining in the last War. The people of New Zealand have long been accustomed to a price which has been reasonable but even when the cost per gallon was only 2s complaints were heard that it was too high. As it is, the pricc has rnsen by sixpence in the last six months, and complaints have risen accordingly. We have a copy of a price list for 1917 and this Avas fixed shortly after the New Year. The list has been ijent by Mr C.. Ansell, of White Pine Bush. Regarding petrol, this quotation reads: "The Petrol Regulations arc still in force limiting the holding to not more than four weeks' supplies ajiead. The best known brands of benzine are itoav coming to hand more regularly, and avc expect to be able to fill your normal requirements. "Our present prices arc as follows: Plume Benzoline 37/6 Plume Motor Spirit 34/6 Plume Benzine 34/Mercury Benzine 32/Big Tree Motor Spirit 37/6 Atlantic Benzine 36/6 Difference in Price. When it is remembered, that these prices, which are for eight gallon case lots, are Avholesale, and that other charges, such as shipping

freight and letailcrs' profits,, are additional it Avill be seen that, taking pin average of 36/- per case plus these charges, the cost of benzine per gallon in 1917 was approximately ")/-. So that when the motorists of today complain when they have to pay about half as much, they should bear in mind the quoted figures. Incidentally, Mr Ansell informs us that in the period to 'which the above list refers there Avere only sixmotor cars in Whakatanc.