THE PETROL FAMINE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9, 8 May 1912, Page 3

THE PETROL FAMINE.

AUCKLAND LAUNCHES IDLE. : (Per Press Association A Auckland, May 7. Further inquiries made with regard to the shortage of benzine indicate that opinions as to the position arc ; diverse, and conflicting statements are .met with. The proprietors of one or : two large motor garages stated that I the position was by no means acute, ; and that they were not alarmed as i to being able to procure sufficient sup- ! plies until the next shipment arrives. I On the other hand, wholesale merchants and large retailors definitely stated that the Vacuum Oil Company has been totally unable to supply any benzine, and that they in turn are compelled to refuse customers who order it. One large distributor informed a. Herald reporter that up to last week about a tenth of his orders had been 3 filled, but now not a single ease was | procurable. The immediate conse- | quences in some cases were extremely I serious, as river launches, which col--3 loot and convey daily supplies of milk I to factories in the country, were use!j less, and consequently milk was being wasted. I Tfie ordinary price of benzine is 11s

(kl per case, but owing to the scarcity it would be possible, a merchant stated, to sell hundreds of cases at the present time at anything from 20s to 30s per case. It is understood that those who still have a few cases left in stock are asking about ,£l per case.