MORE PETROL SOUGHT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 20, 19 October 1943, Page 6

MORE PETROL SOUGHT

Wellington A.A. Request To Government It was decided by ‘K a ? nual z S*?® of the Automobile Association ton) last night to represent to tne Government that the time had arrived when motorists, after four years of drastic pct rol rationing, should, because ot the much improved South lacific war -Rua tion, combined with the considerably reduced military petrol requirements in New Zealand, be now granted at least their full coupon value of petrol. Before the motion was discussed the president, "Sir Alexander 'Roberts, said he hoped it would be very carefully ie viewed before any action was taken in order to get a full understanding ot the pros and cons. New Zealand was only part of the world organization lor the distribution of motor fuels. The council chairman, Mr. L. A. Dan, nutting the motion, said that he understood it required one 12,000-ton taaker j year, which would carry 3,a00,0tM gal lons, to provide the halt coupon value. .Lo make the full coupon value would require one more such tanker a year. Icrsonallv he felt they were fortunate to be New Zealanders and enjoy all the good 1 liin-s they did. Others took an opposite view to hL and unfortunately politics came in a good deal. He knew sufficient to advise that they should not approach the matter at the present time with any feeling that they had not had a fair deal. It was natural as the war danger mo\ ed away that some should feel everything should return to normal in a twinkling; he did not agree that it could or mould. The news from the theatres of war showed them the magnitude of the issues ot human life and of material and made him think they were lucky to get a diop of petrol. Would any member like more petrol to the detriment of winning th* war in the Pacific where the confiic, was going to be so much bigger i The lelease of many military vehicles might have created the impression that the iorces here needed less petrol, but now that our troops were in a forward area they would probably need there the petrol not now being used here. ... There had been much criticism over waste.- (Hear, hear.) Someone was.to blame. They heard all sorts of stories about election petrol and its use recently rather squandering!,v. 'lhat made motorists dissatisfied because conservation should start at the top. At the same time they must act with responsibi ty themselves in the matter, and what they most wanted was the winning ot the " a The North Island and South Island Motor Unions had already addressed a letter to the Prime Minister requesting that the full coupon value be given. Die War Cabinet had stated previously that when the time was opportune f*ie petrol question would be reconsidered. Whether that time had arrived or not was what had to be ascertained, and. they must be guided by those high officials whom responsibility it was. , A member proposed that to make the motion more “tasty” to the Government it be suggested that 2d. a gallon tax be added. It would still not be taxed as much as beer. , A councillor: We don t get as much Petrol. ____________