Issue Of Petrol Licenses

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 26, 2 March 1948, Page 5

Issue Of Petrol Licenses

Post Office Rushed At End Of Last Week Questioned yesterday as to the progress of petrol rationing since its inauguration last week, the Postmaster at Whakatane, Mr W. A. Trask, said it was progressing satisfactorily, though people rather rushed things on the latter part of last week. However, all the essential users such as trucking companies and I food vendors had been catered ' for. With the exception of a few farmers in outlying districts all had received their licences.

Asked whether he had had to put on extra staff Mr Trask said that not only had he had to add extra staff to cope with the work, but he had had to call the rationing counter-staff back on Friday night and Saturday morning as well as to get the licences away in the mail. Apart from a few business firms who are required to undertake extensive travelling, the motoring public as a whole, seems well satisfied with the present petrol allocations, concluded Mr Trask.

Panic Buying Cleans Out Service Stations’ Stocks

Friday was the last day motorists •could get petrol legally without licenses and coupons, so “Fill her up”, was the stock order. Panic buyers got on the job early in the day, and bowser hands found themselves becoming glib with the rhyming caution, “You know it’s a sin to want juice in a tin!”

Even the ban on containers failed to spin out the available stocks in this town and, by lunch time Friday, there was only one place in town where any petrol was available, and the tide was fast ebbing there.

Coupon Dates Announced

Petrol coupons Nos. 1,2 and 3 may be redeemed at face value during March and April, and the April issue of coupons, Nos. 4, 5 and 6 may be redeemed during March, April or May. This was announced by the Oil Fuel Controller, Mr G. L. Laurenson. r