Resellers To Get Reduction Of 10 Per Cent

Chronicle (Levin), 30 January 1948, Page 4

Resellers To Get Reduction Of 10 Per Cent

Press Association ) >

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. Though . the petrol supply situation. in Wellington is acute with the closing days of the month Jinding resellers with extremely depleted tanks, the position in the ' nest few 'months is likely to be even more difficult. This was made elear when the Oil Euel Controller, Mr. LEyirenson, stated that the cut in. the supplies to resellers next month will be 10 per cent. compared with' fhe 5 per cent. cuts elfeeted in December and January, these being calculated on . the supplies drawrf by resellers -iit the c-orresponding periods 12 months ago. He added that in -April the cut whuia effeet- a reduction of 15 per centL' on April consumption of last year, the March reduction being in the same 10 per cent. proportion as February. Apart from the dollar question the . overall problem of supplies from overseas was a matter of concern, he said. The world shortage of "oil fuel and the shortage of tankers. were factors now entering into the New Zea- . land .problem. In December and January the D'omimon had just about scraped through 'With the reduced allocations. He agreed that when the overall cut of 10 per Cent. was made in the ' Dominion's allocation, it meant that the private ear owner had to faee a reduction of up to 30 or 40 per cent. in his supply, for industrial users could not be. cut to any appreciable exteitt and in some cases not at all. In ad~ dition, there Avas a much greater demand for commercial use now than - 12 months ago. The same point was made by the secretary of the ..Ancillary Transport Association, Mr.- E. M. Bardsley, who said many of its members not in possession of their Own boAvsers, were find.ing. they could get no petrol to run their vehicles and were having to - engage private carriers who were fortunate enough to have fuel to maintairi the movement of materials and goods essential to carrying on their business. These llrms were not in a position to cut the running of these vehicles. No (irm deserved to exist which was not, eflicient in keeping down i]ts mileage to - a minimum to save expense. It appeared, said Mr. Bardsley, that the present allocation system was noc working as it might. No one wanted to return to the all-out licensing system but one would know where, one stood. It might -be possible, he suggested, for resellers t'o deduct from their monthly allocation the eonsuniption of their , business eustoiliers — deciding which could stand a partial cut in the normal supply and which could not be cut — ■ and then divide the residue fairly between his remaining regular customers. Other than regular customers would not-43 be served. Taxi propr'ietors in Wellington are feeling the montli-end scarcity severely. One companjr with its own bowser is Gupplving its members with iive gallons dailv. This will allow them to continue ' some service for the remaining days before next month's allocation is available. Next month this company, to meet the reduced allocation, is 'likely to institute a rationipg system from the beginning of the month, double shift cars getting rather more than 20') gallons and single shift cars about half that amonnt. It was stated by drivers that. some of the newest cars use petrol ; at the rate of 14 miles to the gallon , arid at that rate they do not pay to , run on a resricted mileage. The executiye of Wellington branch 1 of the New Zealand Taxi Proprietors ' Federation met today and considered the position under future cuts. It decided to approach the Controller and ask him to make a monthly allocation for taxis which would enable them ^to maintain an essential service. Such allocation could be set aside at nomi'nated bowser stations. ; ~ ' 'Mihi -