BENZINE SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16156, 9 March 1918, Page 3

BENZINE SUPPLIES

SERIOUS SHORTAGE IMMINENT

At the present time few people concerned in the consumption of "benzine for cither motor-cars or plants dependent on the internal combustion engine for trade purposes are alive to the critical stage reached with regard to supplies (says Wednesday's Auckland "Star"). No guarantee can be, made by the. principal vendors responsible for supplies reaching New Zealand that stocks are likely, to be more plentiful than at present, in fact, a. serious shortage is imminent. The prices ruling for inferior grades arc approximately double what they "were l'or this period last year, and in the interests of farmers and essential industries it is generally considered advisable that some restriction should be placed on the practice of using ben- j ! zinc for pleasure-seeking purposes to conserve supplies. Although supplies are promised to arrive in sundry saili.ig vessels, augmented by small consignments aboard cargo steamers scheduled between New York and New Zealand ports, there will not be enough to supply but a very limited portion of the demand for trade purposes. The Government, although quite aware of the prevailing scarcity, ii.is to a certain extent allayed the anxiety in trade circles by the promise that arrangements have been completed lor consignments from New York at a reduced freight rate, yet on enquiries being made to date nothing is >et known of these shipments.