BENZINE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1451, 28 May 1912, Page 3

BENZINE.

(Bγ Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Auckland, l[ay 27. The benzine famine continues, in spite of the fact that 5000 raws arrived hr>rc by the Hansa steamer llohenfel? 911 Wednesday. It is rumoured that this f|iiantity was inadequato to meot orders, and th? firms that supply benzine aic thus compelled to supply the booked orders on a pro ratn basis to their customers. The price charged to customers, before the shortage took place, was 11?. fid. per caso of oitflit gallons , . Prices are now more than double that amount in most cases. A member of a large firm, when , benzine is stocked, states that his firm had the greatest difficulty in supplying orders. Customers could not now obtain supplies at loss than from 2ffs. to .10s. per case. Even at the latter price thtisa who had not booked orders some time ahead would have difficulty in obtaining benziiu , . His firm, quite recently, had been compelled to obtain supplies from country districts in Auckland, and had had lo pay M per case besides paying freight. Inquiries made among taxi-cab drivers show (hat. most: of (hem have sufficient supplies laid by to me.r>f requirements- for the profenr, anil they are not, so tar, greatly affected by the shortage. Private owners of motors are more affected, but some of them have been fortunate enoueh to obtain limited supplies at 4:1 to ,C 1 .I*. per ease. The shortage is likelv to continue until Iho ctonmer Au?l»-Saxcm ar-live-on .Inly I with about 1.1,11(10 cafes.