PETROL RATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1940, Page 7

PETROL RATIONS

FURTHER CUT IMPOSED AS FROM TODAY REDUCTION BY ONE-THIRD. MINISTER STRESSES NEED FOR ECONOMY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. A reduction as from this morning of one-third in the scale of petrol allowances for private motoring was announced last night by the Acting-Min-ister of Supply. Mr Nash. The new rations, which are as follows, are designed to permit of approximately 150 miles of pleasure running a month: — Cars over 14.5 h.p 8 gallons Cars 9.5 to 14.5 h.p 6 gallons Cars under 9.5 h.p 4 gallons Motor-cycles 2 gallons All petrol licences .including those for commercial purposes, are to be reviewed. “To ensure maximum reserves and supplies of petrol for defence, commercial and other purposes, the Government has decided to reduce the ration as from Monday morning," said Mr Nash. “After giving the matter the ' most careful consideration and bearing in mind the important part played by petrol in our national economy, the Government has decided that for July the rations for private cars must be reduced and all petrol licences reviewed. As soon as the international situation improves, the matter will be reconsidered. “This matter has been discussed with representatives of private motorists in several parts of the country and they have all advised the Government of the wholehearted support of all motorists in any steps taken in the national interest. Discussions have also been held with transport operators and they have agreed to co-operate in every way. For the month of July, coupons 4 and 5 will be available for private motoring. REVIEW OF ALL LICENCES. “Economies must be made both in private motoring and in other types of petrol consumption. Arrangements have been completed for a review oi all commercial and other petrol licences. Public transport operators are required by law to run over fixed routes, or to comply with certain schedules. The petrol licences of these operators will be reviewed by the transport licensing authorities. All other licences will be examined by the petrol advisory committees in each district. “To eliminate waste through duplication of food and other deliveries, representatives of the industries concerned have been co-opted for service on the advisory committees when petrol allowances for these industries are being considered. The types of deliveries involved are those made by bakers, butchers, grocers, merchants, milk vendors and wood and coal merchants. Persons who have been having their coal, milk, bread or meat delivered long distances will be the first to appreciate the need for zoning and the elimination of overlapping. Motor dealers and garage proprietors will also be represented when required." AN APPEAL TO FARMERS. Referring to primary industry, Mr Nash said an appeal had been issued to farmers to increase primary production, and necessary supplies of petrol would be made available for this purpose. He would appeal to all farmers, however, not to use any more petrol than was absolutely necessary, and especially not to use farm trucks on highways in competition with the public transport services. Everyone had responded very well during the past few weeks to calls for a greater war effort. He appealed to all petrol-users, to private motorists, farmers, business men, and transport operators, to every one of the 300,000 motor-vehicle users in the Dominion, to help in this campaign to save petrol. His colleague, the Minister of Transport, Mr Semple, was now engaged in negotiations with petrol users, and as soon as they were completed the Government would make a full statement of its policy, but in the meantime it was necessary to save petrol now. else ultimately they might not be able to save any.