PETROL LICENCES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 196, 17 May 1944, Page 6

PETROL LICENCES

Reply To Manufacturers

The chairman of the council of the Automobile Association (Wellington), Mr. E. A. Batt, yesterday replied to a recent statement by the secretary of the N.Z. Manufacturers’ Federation, Air. D. I. McDonald, concerning petrol licences. Mr. Batt said that he had not in any public statement charged licence-holders with the misuse or abuse of petrol licences. It was entirely erroneous for the Manufacturers’ Federation or> any other licence-lfbldcrs to put such a construction on criticism that had been directed against control authorities of embarking on a systematic interrogation, of all coupon operators with the object of ascertaining whether licence petrol was being used illicitly.

“The Oil Fuel Controller has had the regulations amended compelling couponholders to divulge from whom they receive coupons other than those issued to them by the department, and furthermore they must also disclose where they obtain petrol.” Mr. Batt said. “In addition, to make complete the system of interrogation. there is very good reason to believe that coupons will in all probability be made non-transferable. The control authorities have as a matter of fact stated that this is essential and the only means by which they can obtain information concerning the use of licences. This is nil being done for no other purpose than to cheek petrol licence operations per medium of the private motorist. ’’ Mr. Batt reiterated his previous statements that: if tlie Controller had reason to believe that licences were not being used according to the conditions under which they were issued, a more ■direct and effective method sliould be adopted than embarrassing private coupon-holders. “Mr. McDonald states that the members of the Manufacturers’ Federation represent a largo section of commercinl licence-holders.” Air. Batt continued. “As a fact, of tlie total of commercial licences issued, the Manufacturers’ Federation is only a sub section of commercial users, who represent approximately 50 per cent, of the total number of licence-holders and the balance are almost entirely motor-car operators. There are approximately 20 classifications of petrol licence operators. These facts arc merely mentioned to remove any impression that the Manufacturers’ Federation or others may hold regarding the Automobile Association's attitude toward licence-holders, which, in other words, is that control of licences is entirely a matter for the controlling authorities and is actually not the business of the Automobile Association. The methods adopted, though, are of vital interest to every class of vehicle operator.”