Motorists Rush To Buy Petrol In Auckland

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31094, 24 June 1966, Page 1

Motorists Rush To Buy Petrol In Auckland

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 23.

Auckland petrol-tanker drivers have stopped all petrol and oil deliveries from Te Hana, north of Wei Isford, to Huntly for an indefinite period after a secret ballot this morning.

The 126 drivers will meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow to discuss an offer from the oil companies to meet them for talks provided the stoppage ceases immediately. The stoppage follows more than three weeks of talks, restricted working hours and brief stoppages by the drivers.

At 7.30 a.m. today the drivers held a ballot on whether to stop work in support of their claim for higher wages and improved conditions.

The secretary of the Northern Drivers’ Union (Mr G. H. Andersen) said afterwards that the drivers had decided by an overwhelming majority to strike.

The stoppage would continue until the oil companies agreed to meet to hold preliminary talks on the formation of a separate award for petrol drivers, he said. “We don’t want to bring industry to a standstill and throw fellow unionists out of work,” he said, “nor do we wish to harm any emergency services. “Last time we stopped work, we offered to provide emergency services and industries with supplies, but the oil companies refused. This time we have offered to meet them before an independent chairman to decide where deliveries should be made."

Firms’ Offer

The oil companies Issued the following statement on the stoppages tonight:

“in accordance with its already-stated stand, the oil industry, through the Secretary of Labour, has repeated its willingness to meet with the executive of the New Zealand Drivers’ Federation in Wellington.

“At the meeting under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Labour, a separate New Zealand oil drivers’ award would be discussed, provided the Auckland drivers returned to normal work immediately without condition.”

An official said that while the strike continued, the oil companies would provide essential emergency services only to hospitals, ambulances and fire brigades.

The oil industry could not entertain making deliveries to selected industries while the strike continued. Mr Andersen said tonight that he had received the employers’ offer through the Labour Department. “We win discuss it at 10 o'clock at a meeting we were going to hold to organise the distribution of pamphlets.”

Rush To Refuel The effects of the stoppage were already being noticed this afternoon. Long queues of motorists were outside every service station. Many stations restricted the amount of petrol to one or two gallons a car.

The president of the Service Station Proprietors’ Federation (Mr K. E. Blashki) said the stoppage, and, in par-

ticular, the threat that it would be for an indefinite period, was very serious. “People have started panic buying already,” he said. “Some of the stations are getting short of petrol already, and by Sunday there won’t be a gallon to be had in Auckland.

“By Monday evening, commercial delivery firms are going to be right out of action, and by Tuesday night most private motorists will be off the road.

“If the strike keeps going indefinitely I would predict that by Wednesday there will be very few cars or trucks on the road.”

Threat To Industry Mr Blashki said his federation had already sent one telegram to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) seeking immediate action. He said the Government should call in the Army to take over the tankers and carry out deliveries in order to prevent a major stoppage. “If the stoppage carries on long enough, we will run trucks down to Te Kauwhata and fill up drums with petrol to see that the commercial firms are able to keep going.” If the dispute continues beyond a few days, and no emergency deliveries are made, many industries and services will stop before next week. The Westfield Freezing Company has sufficient oil to keep working only until tomorrow night By Monday, staff will have to be laid off if no supplies are received. Crown Lynn Potteries. Ltdestimates that its supplies of i diesel oil will run out in two or three days. i The general manager of the Auckland Gas Company (Mr |R. Worley) said gas supplies could continue for only 48

hours if deliveries of naptha ceased.

After that the carburetted water gas, mixed with coal gas in the mains, would be of a lower quality than usual and might upset domestic and industrial burners. There would be insufficient coal gas to maintain a supply on that alone.

The Chelsea sugar refinery expects to be able to continue production for about 10 days.

Bus Services

The emergency repair service of the Auckland Electric Power Board would only be able to continue for a few days without deliveries. Dozens of other companies, particularly freezing industries or carriers, are expected to be able to continue business for only a few days. The Transport Division of the Auckland Regional Authority has sufficient diesel oil to last a week and the Passenger Transport Company, Ltd., has only enough petrol for a few days.

The drivers, whose award rates of pay vary between 7s 7d and 7s lOd an hour, are seeking increased wages, increased sick pay, footwear allowances, allowances for handling dangerous goods, three weeks’ holiday at average rates of pay and travelling time for some men.