CONSERVING PETROL

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 10

CONSERVING PETROL

VOLUNTARY CO-ORDINATION BY TRADESPEOPLE UNNECESSARY OVERLAPPING SUGGESTION BY DISTRICT CONTROLLER The work of issuing licenses for the purchase of petrol and power kerosene has now been completed, stated the district Controller of Oil Fuels (Mr N. - R. M'lsaac), in an interview with the ‘ Star ’ this morning. Naturally, he said, the task had been an onerous one for his staff, as it was a tremendous undertaking to carry out in a few days at very short notice. If mistakes had been made, or any inconvenience caused to members of the public, such occurrences, although few, bad been unavoidable. It was evident, said the district controller, that in many, cases applicants had made no attempt to comply with the request made by the Government that they supply accurate infonhation regarding their usual consumption of petrol and apply only for reasonable quantities. In several cases the information supplied j was obviously incorrect, and the quantities asked for were extravagant. The attention of the public should be drawn to the fact that the regulations provide for a fine of £IOO or imprisonment for three months in the case of any person convicted of giving false information in respect of any application. “ Until definite information is available regarding the prospect of renewing supplies from overseas it is not possible to indicate to what extent the consumption of petrol will require to be curtailed,” said Mr M'lsaac. “In the meantime, however, it is not intended that any very drastic reduction in the quantities used by business firms should he enforced, but, of course, all licenses are subject to at any time, and the quantity authorised may be reduced or increased if circumstances so warrant. “It is recognised that in th© interests of everyone normal _ conditions in all businesses and professions should he maintained as far as possible, so that unemployment and other uneconomic waste may be avoided. At present business people are able to obtain sufficient petrol to meet normal business conditions, and if their applications are made on that basis the Oil Fuel Controller will he able to determine to what extent further rationing will require to he made. , WORK OF “ ZONING.” “ The public, of course, can assist to conserve petrol supplies by voluntary co-operation, and one worthy example of this came under my notice,” said the district controller, “ in connection with a voluntary arrangement to zone territory, made by a certain group of business firms that deal chiefly with the farming community. _ These firms have arranged that certain territory shall be allotted to representatives of each, and that as .far as possible overlapping in the activities of their respective agents shall be avoided.” “ By this arrangement, the consumption of a considerable quantity of petrol can, no doubt, be avoided. The same principle could bo very well introduced in the cities and larger towns by business firms such as butchers, bakers, grocers, milkmen, coal merchants, etc., in connection with their deliveries. It is a common sight to see several tradesmen of one class, such as bakers, or milkmen, serving the same locality. “If these business people, by voluntary co-operation were to agree to zone their deliveries, the saving in petrol consumption that would result would be very considerable, and at the same time the normal volume of business done by each firm, could be maintained, The public can assist also to conserve petrol by placing their orders with tradesmen early in the day on which delivery is required, op, if possible, the day before. This wotlld enable tradesmen to arrange their deliveries so that they need to travel over one route or the' one locality not more than once a day. Taxi proprietors also, can, by cooperation, effect considerable saving in the consumption of petrol. “ It is known to the oil fuel authorities that a large number of people secured big supplies of petrol before the rationing scheme came into operation,” concluded the district controller. “ It is well that these people should know that they are liable to prosecution, unless they are licensed to store motor spirit, kerosene, and similar dangerous goods. The general public are, of course, expected to use trams, trains, and passenger service buses wherever these are available, instead of travelling bv motor vehicles privately owned.’* SUPPORT FOR SCHEME MOTORISTS TAKEN INTO GOVERNMENT'S CONFIDENCE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON"', September 14. Though general dissatisfaction had been expressed by members of the Wellington Automobilo Association with the flat rate allocation of 10 gallons of petrol a month for private cars, said tho president (Mr E. A. Butt) to-day, ho was satisfied, after having ascertained the details of the position, that steps taken by the Government were in the best interests of the Dominion. The Controller of Oil Fuel (Mr G. L. Laurenson) had emphasised the desire of the Government to return to normal conditions in petrol supply as soon as possible, and in the meantime the finest co-operation motorists could give was by continued acceptance of the necessary restrictions. Mr Batt said that the Controller, when interviewed, had explained that the English scheme of allowance on tho H.P. system was considered, but it had been found that to put it into operation would have caused a delay of at least two weeks, and meantime the private car owner would not have been able to obtain any supplies whatever. “ Wo received an assurance that the Government will take all stops possible to make available to consumers the maximum petrol quantity possible, conI sistent with the building up of adequate reserve stores.