DEARER PETROL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 185, 23 August 1937, Page 3

DEARER PETROL

— Pre8S Association.

Companies Pressing for Rise of ld a Gallon

By Telegraph

AUCKLAND, Aug. 20. Endeavours being mado by oil companies in New Zealand to persuado the Government to consent to au increase •of ld a gallou jn the wholesale price of petrol, which would automatically be jpassed on to the consumer, were reportied yesterday by a prominent Auckland 're-seller. A current rumour that a rise jof 3d a gallon in the rctail price of ;petrol was pending was not glven credence by him, although he knew that Ithere was a move on the part of the jcompanies to press for a smaller rise. *' I do not think that ,there is any {chance of a 3d rise, but there is a reanote chance that the Government might ngree to a further ld, on account of tho incrcased costs abroad," he said. "The companies got an increase of ld a gallon not long ago, and retail prices rose from Is lOd and Is lld a gallon to ls llld and 2s. "The wholesale price is fixed by tho Government for the whole of New Zealand, and it has also fixed rotail prices in some southern centres, but this does Bot apply to Auckland," he continued. ■"Prices have gone up abroad, however, and charges and freights are increasing lall the time. That was the reason for the last rise of ld a gallon, but overseas and transport charges are still rising." Tax levied by the Government on petrol in New Zealand, used for driving road vehicles, amounts to 10 ld a gallon. Of this, 6d goes toward highway 'Oxpcuditure, and the balance to the Consolidated Eund.