MAD RUSH FOR PETROL

Chronicle (Levin), 21 August 1947, Page 4

MAD RUSH FOR PETROL

» ... - — — PANIC FOLLOWS RUMQUR OF . RATIONING ' ' Like wildfire * a rumour that petrol would be rationed that afternoon spread throiighoht Levin and district yesterday. Containers of all shapes/ types and sizes were utilised by motorists in a mad: panie to secure supplieg. By mM-afternoon the rush on garages was at its peak, and suitable contamers were reported to be almost unobtainable in the town. . . One garage proprietor said tpday that he believed a radio flash that an important. annpuneement would be made by the Prime Minister at 10 a.m. was respeaisible fbr the rush. Many who heard the. subsequent. address. by Mr. Fraser on the situation. in Britain had probably put a wrong interpretation on it. . ' Despite previous rumours: the demand for petrol in Levin had been quite normal until yesterday,, said the proprietor, but then, par,ticularly in the afternoon, "everything was brought along but sponges." • , "I was disgusted at yesterday's exhibition," said another proprietor. "The' people are not play'ing the game and their actions reyeal little sympathy for the plight of their kinsfolk in Britain." Some of the people who had called for petrol yesterday were firmly convinced that a restriction on petrol would be in force that day. "My wife heard it on the radio" was a frequent assertion made. "It is just another case of mob psychology — of the blind leading the blind," eontinued the proprietor. "I was disgusted with the selfishness displayed yesterday. One man who purchased 46 gallons a few days ago was back today for another 40 gallons. In marked contrast to such cases, he quoted another customef whose business was entirely dependant on an adequate supply of petrol, but who had stated that whatever happenad he would not resort to hoarding." What people did not seem to. realise, eontinued the proprietor, was that the storage of petrol in containers. by private persons rendered most fire insurances void.