PETROL PRICES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19148, 3 November 1927, Page 9

PETROL PRICES.

THE " WAR » ENDED. UNIFORM PRICES FIXED. Proprietors of garagos and stations are awaiting with considerable interest the effect of the 4d tax per gallon to bo imposed on petrol. ,No official advice lias been received from the Government as to the date on which the tax is to become operative, and they stated yesterday, in response to enquiries by a representative ot TnE Press that they had no information on the matter move than what had appeared in the newspapers. The "potrol war," which has been going on between the garage proprietors and the owners of bowsers, will conclude to-day when uniform pricewill be chargod for petrol by all the stations and garages. It is intended that the public shall receive the benefit of tho stocks in hand before the impost, and one company manager stated that tho price for his petrol would not be incrensed until all the spirit taken in before yesterday had been disposed of. Referring to the 4d lux, tho proprietor of a big City garage stated that it would not be retrospective. "We can only charge the extra 4d tax on our potrol from the date tho new stocks aro put in," ho said. "So far we have had no official notification, of tho imposition of the tax. If the Vhole of the petrol stations and the garage tanks were empty at tho same time then there would bo no difference in the particular consignments of petrol to bear the tax. but the companies consider that when their tanks are full they have enotigh petrol to last New Zealand six months, and the tanks are nearly full now. If the tax is imposed immediately it will havo the effect of preventing dumping. If. on the other hand, the companies receive three months' notice of the imposition of the tax, then they M-ill be able to put in full stocks. Immediate operation will prevent any dodging of the tax. As far as the petrol stations and the garages are concerned one man might sell out his present stock of petrol three days from now. and another in a fortnight hence. We do not know how the tax will operate in those instances. As far as the petrol war between the Bowser proprietors and the garage proprietors is concerned, the ta,x will have the samo effect on both traders. The garngo proprietors are out for fair treatment of the public at a reasonable profit, and the 4d tax will be put on to the ordinary retail price ,of petrol. Tho proper selling price for petrol to-dnv is Is 9d a gallon, and it will bo 2s Id if the Government adheres to its present attitude and adds the 4d tax." From to-day the following prices will be charged for petrol by nil traders:—First grade Is v 9d, second grade Is 7d. The prices, "as explained to a representative of The Press yesterday by a City garage proprietor, are in no way influenced, at the moment, by the imposition of the 4d tax by the Government. The war lias ceased through a mutual agreement in the trade and the prices mentioned will be charged until definite notification is received regarding the imposition of the tax. For some time potrol haR been sold at Is 6d per gallon. Both bowsers and garage proprietors have found that it is impossible to carry on at the price, and to-day it is stated, notices will be sent out to all petrol sellers of the prices decided on, and intimating that the "war" is off.

A DUNEDIN RESOLUTION. (PBISSB ASSOCIATION TELBGRAM.) ■ DUNEDIN, November 5. On behalf of the Dunodin Chamber of Commerce the following telegram was sept to the Prime Minister tonight:— "This Chamber approves of the principle of a petrol tax, but considers that in view of the exemptions to farmers, fishermen, and others some concession should be made to heavy commercial trucks operating within city limits." ■ .. . ■*

RUSH FOR SUPPLIES. DISTRIBUTORS DELUGED WITH ORDERS. .i [THi. PMflB SpMltl atrrlM.] AUCKLAND, November 2. The prospect of an inorease of 4d * gallon in the price of petrol resulted in a rush for supplies throughout Auckland. Both garages and motorists had a common aim. The bulk distributors received orders which they could not fill in the daily routine, and motor tank waggons were rushing full loads from the waterfront storage tanks to suburban service stations. The price remained at iis old level of Is 9d a gallon retail. "Although our stocks will not be subject to duty, the fourpence may be added at any time by the head office," said an Auckland distributor. He added that the oil companies took the view that they were entitled to sell their present supplies at the replacement value. • The petrol service stations throughout the city endeavoured to-day to keep their tanks fully stocked, and until the rise is announced petrol sellers will demand the services of the motor tank waggons frequently. When the bulk distributors _ announce that the wholesale price is advanced most garages will be in the happy position of having their tanks full.