PETROL RATION

Evening Star, Issue 23696, 2 October 1940, Page 12

PETROL RATION

PETITIONS RECEIVED BY HOUSE REGULATIONS CAUSING UNEMPLOYMENT [From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 1. Petitions from motor garage employees and others praying for relaxation of the petrol restrictions commenced to appear in the House to-day, ami Hr Holland (Christchurch North) moved that ono which he presented should bo read. This somewhat rare privilege was granted, but when the Clerk was reading statements from the petition that there is ample shipping available for the transport of petrol and that supplies are not short, the Prime Minister raised the point of order that the petition was going well beyond the usual ground, and that it was irregular because it was introducing propaganda. “ When it conies to expressing opinions about the petrol snpplv and so forth,” declared Mr Fraser, “it is going outside the scope of a petition.” Mr Speaker suggested he should look at the petition. As the result of his examination, lie stated that it expressed a very great deal of opinion on matters which were open to controversy, and in view of the objection taken by the Prime Minister on that point he would not allow it to be further read. This, he explained, would not prevent its acceptance for the purposes of the House. The petition (signed by 1,017 motor mechanics and others in the industry) pointed out that loss of employment liad resulted from the restrictions, ami expressed the opinion that the present severe restrictions would have the effect of spreading unemployment far beyond the bounds of their own trade. The Speaker later announced that the petition would bo received bv the House.