PRICE OF PETROL

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 259, 31 July 1942, Page 4

PRICE OF PETROL

Penny A Gallon Increase Authorized

RISE IN OVERSEAS COSTS

An increase of one penny a gallon In the price of petrol throughout most of the Dominion Is provided for in regulations gazetted yesterday. They are also a consolidation of the existing regulations relating to the fixation of motor spirit prices. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sullivan, said last night that us a result of continued rises in overseas costs of petrol together with marine freight and war risk insurance, a further increase in the price to the extent of Id. a gallon had been justified. After Cabinet had •thoroughly considered the matter it bad'been decided to increase the price throughout the Dominion with the exception of two areas. The exceptions were Gisborne area, where the price would remain the sa.me due to slightly lower costs which had arisen from the rail connexion through Wairoa, and the Bay of Plenty area, where the., increase would amount to 2d., due principally' to' increased freight rates to that area. The price changee and the regulations would operate forthwith. Dominion-wide Fixation. “Since the first price regulations were brought down,” said Mr. Sullivan, “numerous amendments to. subsequent regulations have been necessary in order to deal with the many problems which have arisen in connexion with the whole project of Dominion-wide price fixation of petrol. The petrol price fixation scheme was tackled district by district and regulations were introduced as each district with its own peculiar problems was dealt with. “Since-the whole of the Dominion has been brought within the price fixation scheme, it has become apparent that the regulations would be more easily understood if a consolidated set of regulations . was brought down covering the whole of the .Dominion and embodying all the points which had been covered in the district regulations. - The new regulations therefore, covet the whole of the Dominion, and any subsequent amendments or adjustments in prices can now be very simply effected and only one amend-' ing regulation will be necessary at any time.” HALF PETROL COUPON Allowance For August An announcement that coupon No. 17 redeemable at half its face value would be available to private motorists for August was made yesterday by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr. .Sullivan. lie said that after carefully considering the present stock position and the latest advices as to prospective supplies, it had been decided by the War Cabinet to make a minimum allowance of petrol available to private motorists during August. “The decision to allow tho same ration as during the past two months,” said Mr. Sullivan, “is in furtherance of the War Cabinet's policy of ensuring that as long as it is possible private cars may be kept mobile.”