PETROL SUPPLIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 11 September 1939, Page 7

PETROL SUPPLIES

PRIVATE CAR OWNERS TEN GALLONS MONTHLY START NEXT FRIDAY VITAL SERVICES ASSURED (Parliamontavy Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this dny. Private car owners will be able to obtain 10 gallons of petrol a month as .from Friday next, according to an announcement made today toy the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when indicating that the Government had decided to relax the restrictions imposed on the use of petrol by private motorists.

The Minister said that the Government appreciated the spirit in which the whole country had accepted the restrictions and expressed the hope that this decision would have a stabilising effect on the motor industry.

Pie went on to state that the Government fully realised the hardship imposed on many thousands of motorists as a result of the petrol rationing scheme. Supplies for Services

“The object of the whole scheme," said Mr. Sullivan, “is to ensure that whatever eventualities the future may hold, there are sufficient stocks of petrol available to carry on the essential aviation, transport, commercial and defence services of the Dominion It is a question of building up satisfactory reserves and holding them until the eventualities of the war can be forecast in the light of circumstances as they develop. I am fully aware of the important part that petrol plays on our social and economic life and of a large number of citizens who depend on the motor trade for their livelihood. Plowever, I am sure that all will agree that Our national security must be recognised as being of paramount consideration. “A careful review has been made of the whole situation and New Zealand is fortunate in that stocks of this essential commodity were above the average normal stocks on the outbreak of war. Moreover, certain supplies which were afloat on the outbreak of war have safely reached our shores and, as a result, some relaxation of the existing complete prohibition of motor spirits to private users may now be considered • Subject to Review

“After giving the most careful consideration to the situation and its effect on all interested parties, including ‘the armed forces, cnotor trade, petrol resellers and the private motorist. I have arranged that private car owners will be able to obtain 10 gallons of petrol a month as from Friday next, subject to review ,at any time if this is found necessary >

“The system of issuing the allowance decided upon to the private motorist is now being completed and will be so arranged as to give the least possible degree of trouble to the trade, the motorist and the Post and Telegraph Department whose officers have rendered a most valuable contribution to the scheme of control by their efficient handling of the task of implementing the rationing scheme in three days.” Mr. -Sullivan added that he hoped the announcement would have a stabilising effect on the motor Industry and remove the uncertainty that had : been inevitable as a result of the rationing scheme.