NEW PROCEDURE OUTLINED BY MINISTER

Chronicle (Levin), 22 May 1946, Page 3

NEW PROCEDURE OUTLINED BY MINISTER

■Frcr.s Association

, FIXED QUOTA TO COMPANIES

By Telegravli—

WELLINGTON, May 541. A cliangc in the system of oil iuel rationing, was announced to-day hy the Minister of Supply and Muuitions, Hon. D. G. .. Sullivan. The new system wiu come into' forcc on June 1 and wili ho an ovorall rationing system controllea through the oil companies' buik saies and thercby do away with all coupons, consumers' licences and application forms. 1 1 As I. have stated prcviously, the Goverimient has bccn in constant toucn with the British , authoritics regarding oil fuel rationing and we have now bcen advised that slightly increasea petrol supplies will be madc available — equivalent to a 50 per cent. increase m the current ration for private motorists," said the Minister. "This increase brings ns into line with petroi allowed in United Kingdoni and Australia. Unfortnnately it is not yet possiblc to cut out completely all cohtroi, as demands for petrol from Empire countries cannot yet he met in fnll from sterling sources. "In order to simplify the rationing system for the period it mnst still remain, it has been decided that the on Fuel Controller should make availaoie a fixed monthly quota to the oil companies who will allocate this amount fairly to various resellers and buiK users throughout the country. The resellers will, in turn, make petrol available to the public as equitably and fairly as possible without the necessity for coupons or licences. ' ' The tyre situation is still very difficult and all users should, in their own interest, keep unnecessary running down to a minimum. Available 'supplies do not permit the release of any new tyres for non-essential users in the meantime. "I would like to stress," Mr. Sullivan concluded, "that the rationing of petrol still remains insofar as our totai consumption goes. What the Government has decided to do after con/ultation with United Kingdom authorities, is to abolish the detailed rationing procedure and the large amount of work it entails." Mr. Sullivan added that he would make a supplementary statement at a later date.