DOMINION NEWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 250, 19 September 1940, Page 10

DOMINION NEWS

PETROL SUPPLY ISSUE. ANOMALY SEEN. Per Press Association. AVELLINGruN, oept. 19. Claiming that" the supplies of petrol issued in New Zealand were so low that the economic life of the country was being affected, the Motor Trade Federation’s annual meeting, this morning, supported the president (Mr C. R. Edmond) in his statement tnat another million gallons a month are required. Mr Edmond produced a letter from a large British motor manufacturer in which an appeal was made tor a market in New Zealand. “We would like to respond to that appeal, but we cannot unless there is some easement in the petrol situation. On the one hand, we have the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom telling us we must conserve petrol and on the other one of the leading motor manufacturers in England pleading with us to buy their goods. There must be some place in the middle where we can meet and do both things,” said Mr Edmond. Mr AV. E. Hill saicl the industry had never opposed petrol rationing as a principle, but contended there was a point beyond which rationing could not go without a serious effect on the economic life of the Dominion. Regulations gazetted to-day repeal the provisions of the Motor Y ehicles Amendment Act requiring owners of vehicles propelled by producer gas, coal gas, or other approved substitute fuels to pay the mileage tax. In future no* such tax will be payable by operators of vehicles concerned, who are, however, expected to furnish at the usual time lor this month a return of the mileage up to September 19Heavy vehicles not driven by petrol are allowed an extra quarter of a ton in respect to laden or unladen weights permitted on classified and unclassified roads if by reason of the fitting of any apparatus for using substitute fuels the statutory dimensional limitations of the vehicle are exceeded. AA'ritI ten permission may be given by the 1 Commissioner of Transport for a j vehicle to operate with increased dimensions.

An Auckland message says the council of the Chamber of Commerce has decided to support the Canterbury Chamber, which propose to send a deputation to the Prime Minister asking for a relaxation of the petrol restrictions, at least to the extent ol granting the amount ol petrol available prior to July 1 last. The president said thev should ask why they got less than in England, and a great deal less than in Australia. A petition signed by 263 workers in the Dunedin motor industry has been forwarded to the Premier urging that at least 7-,000.000 gallons of petrol he released monthly to give them reasonable security in their employment.

PATRIOTIC APPEAL. Lord Galway has been taking the keenest personal interest in the activities of the National Patriotic Organisation, of which he is chairman, since the National Patriotic Fund Board and the Provincial Patriotic Councils were set up to raise funds for the troops. He is to-night opening an appeal for £1,000,090 by the Provincial Councils and lias himself produced the design from which a poster is being prepared for the first part of the campaign. The main feature of it is the linking together of two hearts, symbolical of the close ties between New Zealand and Britain.

A detailed financial statement submitted to the National Patriotic Fund Board to-day showed the contributions to the common fund totalled £156,059. Of this £92,000 lias been spent on the provision of general comforts and i amenities for the Fighting Services, and of the remaining £64,000 approximately £27,000 was required to meet further commitments, _ especially in connection with the fitting tip of recreation huts at 'Waiourti, leaving a balance of £37,000. “It will be seen therefore,” said the secretary-treasurer (Mr Hayden), “that the time for the reimbursement of tbe fund is rapidly approaching.” The provincial councils would have to bo called upon very shortly to supplement the national fund from their funds according to the arrangements made.

AMERICA HELPS ALLIES. AUCKLAND, Sept. 19. “We are glad the committee is able to do something for New Zealanu,” writes Air Alired H. Benjamin, a member of the Anzac War Fund Relief Committee, New York, to Air R. S. Little, an Auckland business friend. “Since writing to you, a gasoline company has given 1000 dollars to the fund, and several other contributions have been made. I recently received a letter from members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in London asking for cigarettes. 1 have recommended that 50,000 be shipped immediately. They also ask if we can send an ambulance for the New Zealand No. 1 General Hospital. We'are doing our utmost to comply at the earliest possible moment. “As you can quite realise, the Americans are behind the British as well as the Australian and New Zealand soldiers, wherever they may be, and 1 think it is only a matter of time when the British will win, but the sacrifices are going to be tremendous. Air R. S. lorsyth writes me from London to say the R-A.F. is miles a'liead of the Germans in efficiency, although numerically the Germans are m the lead. AVe are all working for the cause, and if men arc willing to give their blood we should give our support in every possible way. “We have a bigger job on our hands here than in 1914, because people today haven’t got the money they had then. It was much easier then to get 1000 dollars than 20 dollars now. However, you can tell the people of New Zealand that the United States is 100 per cent, behind- Britain, and we think that were it not for the election here we would give a great deal more than we are doing now.” * NEW CALEDONIA TRADE. 'Phc possibility of trade between New Caledonia and New Zealand was discussed by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. A letter from Noumea stated that they could export to New Zealand, coffee, copra, fish, minerals and other commodities in return for’cement and New Zealand primary products. . 1 ' Replying to the council’s inquiries, the steam ship companies stated that they were unable to provide ships for the service.