PETROL RATION

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 8

PETROL RATION

COUNTRY'S ECONOMY DISRUPTED FURTHER MILLION GALLONS MONTHLY NEEDED [Peb United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 19. Claiming that the supplies of petrol issued in New Zealand were so low that the economic life of the country was being affected, the Motor Trade Federation’s annual meeting tins morning supported the president, Mr G. It. Edmond, in the statement that another million gallons per month were required. Mr Edmond produced a letter from a large British motor manufacturer in winch an appeal was made for a market in New Zealand. " We would like to respond to that appeal, but cannot unless there is some easement m the petrol situation. On the one hand we have the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom telling us that we must conserve petrol, and on the other, one of the leading motor manufacturers of England pleading with us to buy their goods. There must be some place in the mmole where we can meet and do Dotti things.” Mr W. E. Hill said tho industry had never opposed petrol rationing as a principle, hut contended that theie was a point beyond which rationing could not go on without a serious effect on tho economic life of the Dominion. DISLOCATION IN MOTOR INDUSTRY REPERCUSSIONS HEAVY ON WORKERS PETITION TO PRIME MINISTER

Signed by no fewer than 263 workers in the motor industry in Dunedin a petition has been forwarded to the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) asking for the release of extra petrol in order to give them some reasonable chance of security in their employment. The petition is worded as follows: 1. That vour petitioners are workers engaged in the motor industry,. which industry is reputed to bo the second largest in New Zealand. 2. That your petitioners are prejudiced in their employment by the dislocation caused through the unwarranted petrol restrictions. 3. That all trades employing motor transport are affected, and that the repercussions are falling heavily on the workers in the motor industry, 4. That vonr petitioners desire to fall in with the wishes of the Government to “ work as you have never worked before.” 5. That 158 of our fellow-workers m Dunedin in garages and service stations alone have already relinquished their employment, nnd more are waiting' to be put off. 6. That, your petitioners are fully representative of the workers in the motor industry in Dunedin. Wherefore your petitioners pray’that relief be granted bv releasing at least 7,000;000 gallons of petrol per month, in order to give us some reasonable sense of security in our employment.