WARNING TO DRIVERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 189, 22 July 1940, Page 5

WARNING TO DRIVERS

SUGAR IN PETROL •SEVERAL CASES REPORTED Thought to be the act of some misguided person, carried away by an extreme interpretation of ' 'patriotism,' four separate i'n- : stances of sugar having been in- ; serted in the petrol tanks of parked cars have been reported to the BEACON. With a view to putting motorists on their guard against this sort of treatment this article is published.. ' The damage to the vehicles con--cerned is far-reaching and -extremely serious, causing dislocation to the -engine and costly repairs. The sug:ar once it is drawn through with the benzine completely blocks all ■cylinder action and ruins the deli•cate mechanism governing the drive. In one case, the tank was removed though heated, and then finally lioiled, nothing could remove the ■cflfltijrf of congealed sugar, which \iUPßtne action of the spirit had assumed the appearance of cement. It was finally necessary to open the tank up and remove the substance jby scraping. The cases named have occurred in "Wliakatane (2), Taneatua (1) and Ohope (1). It is thought that the motive is to prevent the use of vehicles (which the perpetrator considers superfluous) during the benzine shortage, or as a practical method of co-operatJng with the Government appeal to conserve supply. If this, is the case all right-minded persons will agree that the act is '•one of an irresponsible who should ? lDe speedily brought to book in the interests of decency and commonsense. The co-operation of the general public in this respect is required.