PETROL RATION

Evening Star, Issue 23697, 3 October 1940, Page 7

PETROL RATION

TANKER SHORTAGE A FACTOR NOT A GALLON LANDED DURING ONE MONTH [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 2. In reply to criticism of the Government’s announcement regarding the petrol ration, the Minister of Supply, Hon. 1). G. Sullivan, said to-day that the building up of reserves had been very difficult until comparatively recently because of a shortage of tankers. The British Government, when asking New Zealand to reimpose restrictions, had especially stressed this difficulty. During one month the problem became particularly acute, and, although arrangements for supplies had been made well in advance by the oil companies, not a single gallon of petrol was landed in New Zealand. As soon as tankers became available and at the request of the British Government, New Zealand began to increase her reserves. The Government had considered this policy in detail, Mr Sullivan said, and had decided that the present rationing scale should be continued , until essential reserves had been accumulated. Every New Zealander would agree that, while storage space was available and while petrol could be obtained, the most adequate reserves should be built up. As he had indicated on Monday night, it was anticipated that by the end of October the reserves of motor spirit would have readied an amount that would permit an increase in the petrol allowance to private cars, and consequently an increase would be granted in November. Referring to the criticism that commercial users were not mentioned in his earlier statement, Mr Sullivan said that the petrol allowances for commercial or business purposes were determined by advisory committees representing the main classes of users. These committees had been informed many times that petrol restrictions were not to interfere with production. _ They knew that if production needs justified an increase in the case of any person or firm that increase was to be granted. Although private consumers had been reduced 33 1-3 per cent, in July, the reduction in commercial licenses since .Tune had been only 31 per cent., and the saving with private pump holders had been only II per cent.