FEARS OF OPEN SLATHER

Chronicle (Levin), 22 May 1946, Page 3

FEARS OF OPEN SLATHER

-Press Association

By Telegravh-

WELLINGTON, .May 21. "In my capacitv as chainuau of the Autoniobilo Association, I lrave been bosiegod by expcL'tant juotorists inquiring whcllior this good news can really be tnie, " said Mr. E. A. Batt, vvhen eonimoutiug to-day on the statement by the Minister of Supply regarding the abolition of petrol coupons. "This caused mc to make fullost inquiries as to what the proposais actually represeut to the motor vehicle operator. It would appear from the stateiiient xnade by Ihe Minister that there is still to be rationing but it will be the resppnsibility of ihe oil. companies. This) ln elfeet, mcaus there is deiiiiitely a liinit to the amount of exlru consumption that Iius lieen agrecd upon by tlio BnLisIi Government with the New Zealand Minister of Finance in London, In the absence of an equitable. apportionment per luedium of the coupon system or some olher system of equitable ratiouiag, the question inunediately arises, will the uiore entcrprisiug, and oue miglit say, greedy consumer, make a very slrong raid upon Ihe available supplies, cveu perhaps to the extent of storing suiqdus requirements, wlillsl anuther sectiou of petrol consumers wuuld expecl to buy from timo to time according to their muans aud current requirements? There are apparently these two classes aud always liave been since rationing was lirst introuucecl. TJie nett result is there would be a very largc sectiou of consumers who would have to go without their uecessary supplies owing to the liinit of distributiou of the monlh's quota having been reacliod. . Ga-n it be assumed that the rctailer, as has been expericnced m rclation to otlier essential comiuoditios iu shorl supply, may favour hls best customcrs to the detriment of olher users ? The fact remains that the overall supply of petrol to New Zealand is still ralioued and limiled. ilumau iiaturc belng whai it is aud there beiug no coutrol of cousuuiptiou by iudividuai users, cau there be auy assurauce that the lirst iu wou't exliaust the supply? This very possibility is oue thiug which is likely to create a rush. It appears to be open slatlier but ou a limited quaulity aud who aud liow many are going to be left out?" concluded Mr. Bait.