BENZINE AND RACES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1839, 13 June 1918, Page 3

BENZINE AND RACES.

HOROWHENUA COUNTY’S COMPLAINT.

At Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhonua County Council the subject of benzine was discussed, and the chairman (Mr Monk) authorised to secure necessary supplies for the council’s use. The mailer raised the question ofj race trains being stopped, and motor cars and lorries being alloAved to consume benzine. Councillor Galley considered it a farce not to stop the trains —it avus a disgrace. To think the country was run by such a Government made one disgusted. Councillor MeLeavey said people could journey from Palmerston to the races by train, without inconvenience, but could not journey from Wellington. The Government Avere inconsistent.

The chairman said it avus no Avonder there Avas a shortage of benzine Avhen big lorries and numerous ears utilised such huge quantities in journeying to and from the races. Yet benzine could not be got for essentital purposes. He Avould like to knoAV lioav the lorries got their supply; he Avas not there to criticise the Government. If so, the War Regulations might have sometiling to say.

Councillor Law said he had good reason to believe that 400 cars from Palmerston alone journeyed to Otaki, and 300 came from Wellington. Yet, in face of this, benzine could not: be got for milking-plants.

Couneillor Ryder said he had reason to believe that some squatters in Hawke’s Bay had dozens and dozens of cases stored up.

Councillor Law: “I believe a Palmerston firm got .1,500 eases Avit'-.in a feAv days, yet producers cannot

gd: any!” The Chairman: “The result of a Coalition Government.” After other strictures had been passed on the Government, themeeting adjourned Avithout deciding to take further action, hut the general feeling was that race trams should be run to save the supply of benzine, to say nothing of the roads.