PETROL SUPPLIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 254, 24 September 1940, Page 6

PETROL SUPPLIES.

REGUEST RENEWED

MILLION-GALLON INCREASE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, (Sept. 23. Repeating the statement that the present rationing of motor fuel was Hampering industry in New Zealand, the president of tho Motor Trade Federation (Air C. R. Edmond) said that motor traders still considered that trie ration for trie Dbmimon couid be increased by a million gallons a month without any serious effect on the exchange or tanker position. Mr Edmond was replying to a statement by Hon. W. JNasU on Friday. He emphasised that both employees and employers ill the motor industry took second place to none in their loyalty to t'he Empire war cause, and added that the federation had riot at any time questioned the rightness of the policy of rationing petrol, nor had the federation ever doubted that this policy of conservation of petrol had been followed at the request of the United Kingdom Government. “On the other hand, our under-' standing is that the United Kingdom Government has never at any time defined- t'he extent to which rationing should be imposed in New Zealand. It is just at this point that the opinion of the Alotor Trade Federation diverges from the, policy of the New Zealand Government. Trio federation is of the opinion that the monthly ration should be based on 7,000,000 gallons, whereasthe Government is basing its policy on an allowance of 6,000,000 gallons a month,” says Air Edmond. After referring to the stock position and the Government’s decision to have a greater reserve, Air Edmond said that the federation knew that the reserve storage position would he satisfactory at a very early date, and it trusted that the Government would then implement its promise to restore the cut which was imposed on July 1. The federation also suggested _ that, when the ration position was reviewed, the federation, as representing the whole of the industry, including the workers, should be brought into consultation.

“We feel sure that a _ rationing scheme could be made operative in New Zealand which would have the dual effect of keeping the motor industry going and at the same time giving maximum help to the war effort _of the United Kingdom’, always bearing in mind the need for an adequate reserve stock in New Zealand for all national purposes,” Mr Edmond added.