BIG OIL PROFITS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 29, 24 June 1914, Page 5

BIG OIL PROFITS.

REDUCED OIL FREIGHTS. AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. Wellington, June 10. A significant sidelight on the profits of the big oil importing combines was shed during a discussion by members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce upon a pcoposed reduction of the railway freight upon motor spirit. The Va,cuum> Oil Co. and others interested have circulated petition which it is claimed have now been signed by 2000 industrial users of motor spirit, and now the petitioners are ready to go before the Minister of Railways. They suggested to the Wellington Chamber that the petition should be presented to the Minister "under the aegis of the Chamber." It was explained tuat kerosene was car-, ried at class A, the biggest freight rates, and that benzine; wal*fibav-g"5 "I*„ 3 * rate aud, a-ia'if. ' "Don't think the Vacuum Oil Company will ask our advice when , they raise the price of motor spirit," said a member of the Chamber. Mr. G. Shirtcliffe, a prominent Wellington merchant, remarked: "I suppose they won't give us an undertaking that when tins' concession is obtained from the Railway Department they will not raise the price of spirit ". (Laughter). After looking up some figures, Mr. Shirtcliffe added: "As far as I can make out, motor spirit comes into New Zealand at Stout Wad P er gallon, and the wholesalc~pricc Is is gd per gallon. Wc arc asked to send a requisition to the (Jovernment to reduce the railway rate upon a very dangerous article without any assurance from the Vacuum Oil Company that when the concession is granted they won't put up the price. Mr. W. G. Foster: There's no harm In asking; they won't get it. Mr. Shirtclifl'e: Then why do such a silly thing? In the end a committee was set up to look into the matter. It is understood that there is an equally great disparity between the landed* cost and the retail price of kerosene. It is entered at the Customs at 7'/'d per gallon, but four*gallons retail cost in Wellington 4s 6d—two shillings increase on halt'-u-crown's worth of landI ed goods seems a-heavy price to pay for distributing even so awkward an article as kerosene.