USE OF FUEL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20047, 20 September 1939, Page 4

USE OF FUEL

WASTEFUL METHODS DISCOVERIES BY. FIRMS (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. It is clear from candid admissions by some business firms that until they found it necessary to check petrol consumption and mileage figures under the fuel regulations they had been unaware that they had been pursuing methods responsible for a great waste of motor spirit and had exercised no real control on its issue. Some concerns had kept no detailed figures whatever of the use of petrol by individual vehicles of their fleet, and it is disclosed that many vehicles have not even been registering mileage.

Investigation by several concerns showed that they possessed trucks which, to the surprise of the oiyners, appeared to have such low performances as four to nine miles to the gallon, a rate of consumption admitted to be uneconomic. As a result engines are being overhauled and. other steps taken in the endeavour to improve the position.

“As a very necessary economy measure, I have issued instructions to my drivers that in no circumstances’ are engines to be left running when a vehicle is not moving,” said one owner. “I am satisfied that a big saving in petrol is possible by this measure alone." i

As an outcome of an interchange of information between firms consequent on, the problems arising from the need to conserve supplies of motor spirit, greater efficiency in operation and a lowering of costs is a likely outcome in many instances.