THE PETROLEUM FAMINE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 201, 4 May 1912, Page 5

THE PETROLEUM FAMINE

SHORTAGE THROUGHOUT THE DOMINION. ; By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchuroh, Last Night. A petrol famine has'descended on the Dominion, the price of petrol has bumped up, and now not a drop is to be obtained from the principal distributing agency, the Vacuum Oil Company. The general garages in the city and some of the oil business firms have supplies for a few weeks, but it is anticipated that the next fortnight will witness a material reduction of the city's motor traffic. There are reports of fabluous prices being offered l for petrol, even up to £3 a case. These, however, cannot be authenticated, though there is no doubt that as much as 35s has been paid for one case containing eight gallons. One firm in the city is retailing petrol in two gallon quantities at as 6d per gallon, or the rate of £1 a'case. It will not part with more than two gallons to any one customer. The idea is to distribute the stock as widely as possible, so that petrol will only be purchased by people as they require it. Quite a number of firms, and particularly those engaged in the drapery and grocery business, have discarded horse delivery vans in favor of a motor delivery. Some of them are in the fortunate position of having stocks of petrol sufficient for the requirements of a few weeks; others hav'e been left in the lurch, and are waiting to see what the famine will bring forth. These hope that the wholesale firms with which they have been dealing will see them through, and a "Times" representative learned that one firm at least intended to help its commercial clientele in this direction. It seems that there will be no immediate effects of the shortage. Private motor-cars will probably cease running to some qxtent at an early date, but it is ridiculous to suggest that within a week or so there will be no motor vehicles running in Ohristchurch. One commercial firm has at least six week's supplies for its machines. The firms engaged in motor and rubber businesses are rather pessimistic as to the effect the shortage of petrol will have on their operations. It seems to be certain that a large number of motor vehicles will be withdrawn from commission, and consequently there will be a decline in the demand fo'r tyres and accessories, and a considerable falling off in repairs. The tyre turnover by some of the motor firms is enormous. The ordinary rubber goods business is | not likely to be affected, but most of I the firms deal also in motor and motor i cycle tyres. The immediate withdrawal [ of taxi-cabs from street hire is not conI templated, but there will be a reduction in the night services. Some of the garage proprietors are giving their drivers their annual holidays at once, so that the men will lose as little as possible by their enforced idleness. The garage proprietors fear a fairly 'heavy loss if the famine continues for any length of time. It seems that every ordinary substitute for petrol has been bought up with the petrol. There' arc : some cars which will run on kerosene, but a special engine is required for its , efficient use. Some motorists may try I it in ordinary engines, starting with a small amount of petrol. In these cases, however, the kerosene may not act efficiently, and it has the added fault of I'being very dirty. There are all sorts of j rumors about various substitutes being . tried, and an old story about a motpr I party coming in from' Little River by j feeding a bottle of whisky into their I machine is being revived. Superintendent j Erck states that the Christchurch Fire [ Brigade has an ample supply for its I motors, sufficient to last for three j months. It was the. custom to keep two months' supplies, and when the shortage I was rumored an extra, lot was secured. Several people had called at the station to borrow petrol, but their applications could not be entertained.

Inquiries made at the local office of the Vacuum Oil Company go to show that there is no prospect'of the famine being relieved in the near future. The steamer Hohenfeld will arrive shortly, and will land petrol at Lyttelton and Sydney, but the quantity on board will not fully meet the demand. According to present indications it would be some time in July before the large shipments in the steamers Anglo-Saxon and Dunelutha would be available. The reasons for the present shortage were that the chartered vessels had been delayed, and the demand for petrol had been extraordinary for this season of the year. Instead of sales falling off after' January, as they usually did, they had kept up, and as much was sent out in March as in January. The company had not taken advantage of the situation to increase its prices, but had parted with its whole stock at the ordinary trade price. Buyers were not allowed to take all they asked for, but the available stock waa parcelled up as reasonably as was possible. The shortage at present was unique in character, as it involved shortages in substitutes as well as in ordinary motor spirit. On previous occasions the shortage in- petrol had always been balanced by stocks of substitute fluids, which could be used with efficiency. The possibility of getting supplies from Australia is being freely discussed, but at present there is no reliable information as to the position in the Commonwealth. There are some very contradictory reports about the city, but the prevailing impression is that the shortage is being felt over there. In any case it is not a simple matter to import large quantities of highly inflammable stuff like petrol or benzine from Australia. The ordinary passenger steamers would carry very little of it. Some time ago some petrol was imported from Australia. It had to be sent from Sydney to Newcastle and unloaded there. It was afterwards put on a lighter and loaded on to a coal ship for New Zealand. It got here with the cases and tins in a very dirty state, but after all the petrol was inside. Whether importation from Australia will prove the solution of the difficulty remains to be seen.