PETROL RATIONING POLICY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 200, 16 August 1940, Page 4

PETROL RATIONING POLICY

WHETHER the Government has gone too far in the restrictions enforced upon the use of petrol is a question raised by the New Zealand Motor Trades Federation upon arguments which call for an answer. The time has come for the: Government to give a comprehensive review of its policy in this connection,, because there is certainly' a great deal of public puzzlement which should be set at rest. The Government need not fear that if it can show that the full extent of the "present restrictions is justified the public wiill not loyally accept the position and continue to make every possible economy ill the use of petrol. The deputation from the motor traders gives the Government the: opportunity to make a further explanation which the public would welcome. Everybody is aware that New Zealand formerly consumed far too much petrol and that when war came economies were essential to reduce luxury spending, to conserve overseas exchange and to ensure that .shipping space was not overtaxed. ; The country expected and cheerfully accepted certain restrictions. The people are willing to go further to any extent providing they are«assured that by so doing they are acting in the best interests of the country. But as the motor traders emphasise, the point can be reached where restrictions upon one of the largest .industries in New Zealand may do much more harm than good.. It is admitted that war economy has fallen far more heavily upon the motor trade than upon any other large section of the community, and those engaged in the industry are entitled to seek from the Government full justification for the restrictions imposed. The motor traders suggest that there is no shortage of shipping space. On the other hand they can point to unemployment and heavy losses suffered by the industry in New Zealand and the general effect of the restrictions upon the business life of the whole community. There ' remains the question of overseas exchange' funds and. generally the desirability of allowing New Zealand to spend money on the whole business of motoring while the war is in progress. Those are aspects of the problem upon which •New Zealand would welcome further information from the Government. The use of dollar exchange is certainly important as far as the purchase of petrol from the United ' States is concerned, but rightly or wrongly the public has the impression that ample petrol may be purchased from the East Indies and elsewhere and be paid for in sterling Certainly even sterling exchange must be conserved carefully,, but the problem which the industry asks the Government to solve is whether the expenditure of a little more sterling from the admitedly improving balance might not be more than offset by improved efficiency in several hardpressed industries in New Zealand. The public sis prepared to act in either direction for the good, of the country and for efficiency in the war effort. What it asks for is further information from the Government and an explanation of the policy which it is proposed to follow. A reasoned statement would do much to satisfy many people who havfe become a little dubious.