GOVERNMENT CARS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 174, 17 June 1940, Page 8

GOVERNMENT CARS

WASTAGE OF PETROL CRITICISM BY FARMERS "This system of urging petrol" conservation on the general publicis farcical when the people onlyhave to look round them to see Government cars and trucks wasting: enormous quantities," said Councillor S. B. Murray at a meeting of" the Rotorua County Council Avhen» a circular urging petrol conservation was received from the Commissioner of Transport, Mr G-. L. Laurenson. There were any amount of taxis and buses engaged unnecessarily on sightseeing trips, added Mr Murray. The position was becoming difficult for farmers, agreed the chairsman, Mr. H. P. Ford, particularly back-block farmers. Preferenceshould be given to these men, miles; away from the nearest town, and" thev should not be limited to the same amount of benzine as city men who cou'.d well use a tram. Either the country dwellers should' be given more coupons- or special licenses. In cases of sickness, added the chairman, a back-iblocks farmer often used his month's j inside a week. Government services were scarcely giving a good lead to the pub-» lie when two service cars, ofteii both empty, were run between Rotorua and Hamilton every day by the k Railway Ro.ad Services, saift Councillor A. L. Keith, and he moved a resolution to the effect that the Commissioner should heinformed that the council was conserving petrol as far as and that further, the council would' appreciate action being taken to induce Government departments to economise more than they were doing. The motion was carried.