PETROL FOR RETURNED MEN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23974, 15 June 1943, Page 6

PETROL FOR RETURNED MEN

CONCESSIONS EXTENDED An extension of the classes of return, ing servicemen entitled to apply * or petrol was announced in a letter from headquarters of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association received by the executive of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association last evening. „ . . The letter said that the Dominion Oil Fuel Controller had stated that it was desired that the reference to “returned from overseas service” be regarded as applying not only to those members of the armed services who were being released from the 2nd N.Z.E.F. or from active service overseas in the Navy or Air Force, but also to other personnel: (a) who had been overseas for special training, or (b) who had been on extended garrison or other similar service for a period of at least six months. It was emphasised by the controller that only one licence up to 10 gallons was to be made available to any person. An application, therefore, should in normal circumstances, . be made within 30 days of the return of the applicant to the Dominion or of the date of discharge from hospital or other remedial treatment. These conditions might be varied where special circumstances made it impossible for returned personnel to take advantage of the privilege shortly after their return. A third point was that favourable consideration would be extended to returned personnel who had returned to civil life during the current calendar year. Mr A. J. R. Blakely suggested that the privilege be made retrospective, no matter how long the men had been back, and that each man should receive the full 10 gallons without argument. It was pointed out that the concessions announced had been obtained only after strong representations. The phraseology of the controller’s announcement allowed any returned man, no matter when he returned, to apply, but it would be a matter for the oil fuel authorities whether an allowance was granted if the application had not been made within 30 days of the man’s return. The letter was received.