PETROL RATIONING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24400, 11 September 1940, Page 6

PETROL RATIONING

ALLOWANCES ABROAD . COMPARATIVE FIGURES THE PRIVATE CAR OWNER We have received the following statement from the New Zealand Motor Trade Federation;-- - .. „ - , The spirit of the New,Zealand, people is completely attuned to the making of any sacrifices that may be imperative for war purposes. But what' if they are asked to accept sacrifices greater than those of the people of the British Isles who are to-day bearing the brunt ? ' of the war? Surely then they may reasonably ask “ Is this necessity arising from war? ” ■ v:- . _ That is just the position in regard to petrol. The motor trade has been, and is. willing to make every sacrifice that the necessities of war dictate. We are prepared to concede the need for petrol rationing within reason. But when the New Zealand motorist is allowed less petrol than many British private car owners and less than half the petrol ration of the Australian motorist, we must feel that the vast industrial and commercial structure built on petrol is being placed in jeopardy for reasons outside, the requirements of our wartime economy. Basic Allowances Here is a comparison of the basic petrol allowance's in gallons for private users in New. Zealand,/.Great Britain, and Australia;— New. . Great. ~Aus Class. Zealand.-’ Britain.. •' trails.

The figures for Great'Britain are taken from the Motor of June 5; the Australian figures are extracted fromthe bulletin of the Australian Liquid Fuel Control Board. The New Zealand owiiers of 8 'h.p. cars, 14 h.p. cars, and cars 20 h.p. and over receive a smaller . petrol allowance than their English counterparts. Remember that these three classes make up by. far the largest part of the motor cars operating in New Zealand. In the last three years,-, two out of every three new. cars soldin New ‘Zealand were in one of these three, classes, which receive greater petrol allowances in England. The Australian "petroP allowances are, of course, in almost all cases, more than double the New Zealand ration. We have no information on the petrol allowance for business users in England, but the Australian scheme allows them liberal treatment. Unnecessarily Severe riy-: - Such protests as we raise,against,this state ,of affairs .are no refusal on the part* of the' New Zealand people to «ractifce War-time s&f-denial. J Sufferig and sacrifice we are prepared; to share with good heart, provided they ensure the security of bur national existence. ■■ Such rationing as is necessary we will accept, but: rationing more severe than that adopted.in Englandright at the‘seat of war —appears to ui both ill-advised; and ’unnecessary, ' There seems to be no. logical reason which could be supported in fact* and not merely in theory, to warrant sixch severe rationing. There seems no. justification for the complete wiping but of hundreds of thousands of pounds in earnings every, year and of thousands upon thousands of pounds at taxation revenue, .to save L ‘d ! tittle of that sum in dollar exchange'or overseas'credit, or whatever it is the. Government Is trying to save. There seems to be no right thinking in this scale of which will bring ruin to may in . the motor busi-' ness, will bring (yqs, /has', brought) unemployment in itk trdin; is seriously reducing the Government’s taxation revenue and dangerously impairing the soundness of the Dominion’s essential motor transport services.

Up to 7 h.p. 4 4 10 Up to 8 h.p. 4 5 10 Up to 9h.p. 45 11 Up to 10 h.p. 6 6 • 11 Up to 12 h.p. 6 6 ; 13 Up to 14 h.p., 6 If 14 Up to 15 h.p.,. 8 7 / 16 Up to 19 h.p. 8 8 16 Up to 20 h.p. 8 • 10 16 Up to 30 h.p. 8 -• 10 19 Over 30 h.p. 8 10 23