THE PETROL FAMINE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1434, 8 May 1912, Page 8

THE PETROL FAMINE.

HOPE FROM AUSTRALIA. A jiloaui of hope yesterday illumined ihe darkness of the petrol famine—lhpre is a possibility of a relief shipment" from Australia. Fnrlher iii'iuiries 011 1 lie subject by a representative of Tur. Dominion elicited the news that subject to the question of freight being settled—such inflammable cargo is barred from the intercolonial passenger boats—a supply of benzine an-1 motor spirit will be landed here under the agency of file "Shell" Company at a very small advance on the normal rates, for sale to legitimate distributors—not private speculators. There appears to lie a fairly general consensus of opinion here that the private speculator is (ho m.iii who has done all the damage to the nerves of the petrol people. One of the local agencies report that in Australia the local product of the Australian -Motor Spirit Company is being (|iiotcd ;it Is. Bd. per gallon, f.0.b., Sydney, and that a request for 2"iofl cases on order for distribution to Xw Zealand buyers elicited the reply that none was to'be had. HEAVY SUPPLIES COMING IN. (11-j Telegraph—Special Correspondent ) Christchiirch, May 7. An order, for 2000 cases of petrol lias been sent io Australia, and the consignment. is expected to arrive shortly. It was intended first to send over this petrol in small lots on passenger steamers, but some difficulty has been experienced in carrying this out, and the probabilities now aro that tho whole shipment'will come by a cargo boat. The date of arrival of tiio 'consignment is somewhat indefinite, but tho expectation is that the goods will corno to hand before the end of tile month. Tho Uoheni'els, which reached Melbourne a few days ago, has ;iOOO cases on board for Lyltelton, and this shipment should also come to hand before ihe end of tho month. The bulk of the supplies for New Zealand will bo in Auckland at tho beginning of July, and (he cases should arrive in Cliristcliurch by July ". The appjanuice of these supplies will effectually put an end to tho present shortage.