OIL FUEL REGULATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 254, 24 September 1940, Page 4

OIL FUEL REGULATIONS.

TAXI* PROPRIETORS FINED,

Charges alleging breaches of the Oil Fuel Regulations were preferred in the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before Mr Ft. P. La wry, S.M. L. H. Steele and F. M. McMillan, taxi proprietors, were charged with selling petrol, such sales being of a kind not authorised by the Oil Fuel Emergency Regulations, 1939. Steele was charged with so selling 43 gallons on July 31 and 94 gallons on August 31, and McMillan with selling 121 gallons on July 31 and 87 gallons on August 31. Both defendants pleaded guilty, Steele through Mr J. M. Gordon and McMillan through Mr G. E. Rowe.

Detective Power stated that each defendant drew the petrol for his business from a. private pump, and both Jiad petrol licenses allowing them to use 465 gallons a month. They had used their quota and then drawn petrol beyond it. When other taxi proprietors who did not have a private pump reached the limit of their allocation for the month they simply had to make the best of it and close down.

Counsel explained that negotia- [ tioiis had taken place as to the amount i allowed on defendants’ licenses, and explained the fluctuating nature of their clients’ requirements, saying also that if their quotas were used before the end of the month this would mean unemployment for their staffs. The Magistrate pointed out that the allowance for commercial travellers had recently been reduced, and when a traveller had used his allowance his car simply had to go off the road. Both defendants were in a position of trust in having petrol under their control. Whether the allowance were adequate or not, they were expected to assist in conserving petrol by not exceeding their monthly quotas. McMillan was fined £lO on each charge and Steele £lO on one and £5 oh the other. The costs were 10s in each case.