LOCAL CONTROL NEEDED

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 510, 2 March 1920, Page 2

LOCAL CONTROL NEEDED

Though it is now probably too Int.:to ell'ect any material alteration in the control of the distribution of benzine, it is as well to place or record the weaknesses of the present methods. Doubtless the Board of Trade is doing its best, but it is sit nificant that the supply in the country districts did not reach such ; low quantity until the board toolcontrol. Had the wholesale merchHnts been allowed to send a Ion", supplies to the country retailers, ti be distributed on the authority of local committees, we should not have the grossly unjust conditions under which men who use cars for pleasure only are seemingly able to get a'l the benzine they require, while at the same time many dairymen have to resort to hand milking because they cannot get the relatively small quantity required to drive thei.' milking machine engines. Similar .">nomaiies have been in evidence in connexion with the sugar shortage, a local auctioneer being able to sell

sugar by Iho hay, while one of the largest retail grocers between Ham ilton and Auckland has been unable to get sufficient to supply his cusInine's with in 21b lot*. The retu ;l merchant alluded to almost had t>shut n)i the eonfoetionery depaitmetit of bis bakery, and bad. we nn > ln rstand. 1" refuse :m order for t!v <up)ilv of half-a-ton of cake durin.' -bow time. We do not in the leas; blame the. auctioneer: business is business, and he had every right to -"II anything legally salable, but we submit that better regulation is re ■;iiired. The fact is that centralis! t i<>)) in Auckland in regard to sup plies for country districts has always proved a failure. We may add thai the Franklin Repatriation Committee, also, has done a wonderful lot of good work that could never have been accomplished from •he citv. I.ocal knowledge is esseri-ti.-'l in everv case if iust conditionare to prevail: and therefore, in ;il these matters local committees, with both advisory and executive nowers. should be set up where;eland whenever Ihero is need of them.