Australian Motorists Queue For Petrol

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1949, Page 5

Australian Motorists Queue For Petrol

Beceived Tuesday 7 p.m. SYDNEY, June 7. An urgent conference on the petrol ssituatioil has been called in Melbourne for late to-day by the Commonwealth Government. It is believed that shoulo the State Govetnmeiits not be prepared to undertake the rationing of oil, the industry 'will be asked to agree to r&tion petrol to consuiners probably on . the basis of existing licences. Members of the petroleum committee have been summdned to the Melboujme eon ference.- This committee comprises oii company executives and Fedefal ofii' cers. Petroleum importers said to-day there was no immediate rick of chaos as the estimated dlflerence betWeen supply aud maximum unrationed requirements was only 20 per cent. The new Cabinet is discussing the position And Premier McGirr has appealed to distributors to limit petrol Saies. The Pfemier of Vietoria, Mr Hollway. said that it would be farcieal for any State to assume that it could effeetively carry out petrol rationing without the full co-operatiou of the other States. The Queensland Premier, Mr Hanlou, said he did not think the States could effeetively ration petrol because motorists from one State could not be prevented from buying petrol in another. Motorists, fearing the reintroduction of rationing in some form, rushed garages to-day with drums, tins and other containers. Cars were queued up when garages opened. The Liquid-Fuel Control Board has closed its door and the staff prepared to wind up its activitles. Garage proprietors whoy reported record early morning saies, said that this afternoon saies were only slightly above average. _ ..