THE BENZINE SHORTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1920, Page 4

THE BENZINE SHORTAGE.

CARGO REACHES NEW PLYMOUTH. REASONABLE SUPPLY IN A MONTH, Taivuiaki. in common with other parts of New Zealand, has experienced a shortage of benzine for some time past. Supplies are not yet normal, but some relief was afforded yesterday by the arrival at New Plymouth of the Mapourika from Wellington with 3800 cases of benzine.

A Press Association message received from Wellington last night says steps have been taken by Mr. Massey'to abate the acute shortage of petrol feit throughout the country, and to relieve the dairy farmers of the Waikato, who need petrol for milking machines, arrangements have been made to forward supplies. Mr. Massey has also arranged to divert to \o,w Zealand six thousand cases consigned to Melbourne, distribution to be controlled by the Board of Trade. It is anticipated that reasonable supplies will be available in a month.

ifr. C Chambers, assistant genorul manager of the Vacuum Oil Companv, states that the general market is pretn' bare just now, but that does not mean that the shortage is at all acme throughout j\ew Zealand, as stocks may be held here and there throughout the country of which they know nothing The Wnihora was at present discharging a shipment, all of which was bespoken in Wellington, but there were other shin, ments to arrive during the month, which it was hoped would arrive before the shortage became acute.

There is a benzine famine in Auckland, and several leading firms stated that they absolutely without stocks Others have a few caßes in hand, but these are being merely held for the completion of regular orders, A cargo of 60,000 cases ig expected next weak, and this should relUve tbo politic^