AUSTRALIA CUTS PETROL RATIONS AS STOCKS DECLINE

Grey River Argus, 7 September 1948, Page 5

AUSTRALIA CUTS PETROL RATIONS AS STOCKS DECLINE

CANBERRA, Sept. 1 The Federal Cabinet has decided to reduce the petrol rations for private reduce tn p an j other rations fy'l0 b per°S. The cuts will operate fr T n he°raUori r lor private motor-cycles he reduced to a mileage more closely approximating that of private Ca Snecial consideration will be given MUfisten Mr P> Chifley,

said that the .number of vehicles registered was increasing so rapidly that it had accounted for a progressive increase in the consumption of petrol of about 260,000 to 290,000 gallons monthly. The Cabinet decision was dictated by the necessity to limit the purchase of petrol from dollar areas, but also by the fact that the world supply position in relation to petrol was becoming increasingly difficult. There was also the necessity to conserve stocks for defence purposes. x Australian petrol stocks were about 60 per cent., of the average pre-war holdings, he said. He also indicated that the Direc-tor-General of Civil Aviation would move with the controllers of liquid fuel to peg the consumption of civil airline operators. Subsidised interna! operators would be restricted to sufficient aviation petrol to implement the timetables in force on July 1, 1948, and unsubscribed internal operators would be limited to 95 per cent., of this amount. Private owners, aero clubs,,-aircraft manufacturers and repair organisations and others would lose 10 per cent. , , . These cuts are the third made by the Government within a year.