PETROL POLICY ASSAILED

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 6

PETROL POLICY ASSAILED

STRONG COMMENT BY MOTORISTS “FINGER OF PATRIOTISM POINTED AT US’’ (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, September 28. “The finger of patriotism has been pointed at us and we are not going to take it,” said Mr W. R. Carey, president of the South Island Motor Union, when discussing the agitation for easing the petrol restrictions at the annual meeting of the union. ‘‘You can analyse the record of any Minister of the Crown and compare it with those of members of this union. We stand in favourable comparison and we will not tciko it.” The meeting heartily endorsed Mr Carey’s attitude. The union had before it the latest letter from the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, in reply to a telegram advising him that it was reported that he had said that the sale of petrol would require to be rationed or controlled even if war had not come. Mr Nash’s reply, received this morning, was as follows:— “While it is not possible to determine now what would have happened about the import of petrol had not war broken out, it is likely, to the extent that it may have been necessary to utilize our sterling resources on the import selection policy, that preference would have been given to medical requirements and raw materials for primary and secondary industries; and that some licences would have been curtailed and, to the extent that petrol is used for luxury purposes, it might have been necessary to limit the sum which would have been available for its purchase overseas.” Mr Carey said he wanted to know how Sir Harry Batterbee, the United Kingdom High Commissioner, was brought into the argument. Mr C. R. Edmond (president of the Motor Trades Association): He came in. “Well, he was not very convincing, commented Mr Carey. He added that he had asked two bankers how the restrictions on petrol conserved dollar exchange, and they were unable to assist him. . . “The morale of the people is being undermined and there are murmurings from one end of the country to the other,” said Mr F. W. Johnston (Christchurch). “The Government is doing the work of a thousand fifth columnists. The radio from London is buttressing us up and asking us not to be pessimistic, but the Government here, by restrictions which to any freeminded tribunal are incomprehensible, is undermining the morale. Its petrol policy has been vacillating and inconsistent, and it is now appealing on patriotic grounds.”

“THIS BIT OF NONSENSE” “There is something wrong when Ministers of the Crown can roam round the country at large in cars and enjoy themselves while soldiers on leave cannot get petrol,” said Mr P. F. Harre, secretary of the Otago Association. He protested vigorously against the ruling of the Oil Fuel Controller that a special petrol allowance could not be made available for soldiers on leave to enable them to visit relations in country districts. The meeting was invited by Mr Harre to make a strong protest against “this bit of nonsense.” “Whether the Oil Fuel Controller or the regulations are responsible I do not know, but it does not seem right that persons sitting comfortably in high places can arbitrarily turn down a reasonable request like that,” Mr Harre said. “Petrol is allowed for up to 300 miles in England, where there is a real war, and it should be done here. He considered that the granting of special allowances should be left to the various local fuel controllers. Mr J. H. Main (Oamaru) suggested that there had been a change of front as he knew of a case where a pilotsergeant on leave had obtained 14 gallons in Christchurch to visit Oamaru. The union decided to make a protest and to ask for a universal rule. “That we definitely consider that the question of the petrol allocation, especially in view of the trade statistics for the first five months of 1939 and 1940 and also in regard to the disruption of the industry and commerce of the Dominion and the consequent effect upon the general morale of the community, should be taken up strongly by motor unions with a view to aiming at. an allowance consonant with what is proposed to be given in Australia, was a resolution carried at the meeting. Both North Island and South Island representatives expressed their determination to fight the Government hard. A petition is to be sent to Parliament and if necessary a delegation will press the Ministers of Finance, Transport and Supply for categorical answers.