PETROL SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1940, Page 4

PETROL SUPPLIES

VIEWS OF MOTOR TRADE FEDERATION NEW ZEALAND RATIONING CRITICISED. COMPARISONS WITH BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA. The basic petrol allowances for private car owners in New Zealand. Great Britain and Australia are compared in the following statement by the New Zealand Motor Trade Federation, which suggests that the New Zealand motorist is being called on to make a greater sacrifice than is necessary: — “The spirit of the New Zealand people.” the federation says, “is completely attuned to the making of any sacrifices that may be imperative for war purposes. But what if they are asked to accept sacrifices greater than those of the people of the British Isles who are today bearing the brunt of the war? Surely then they may reasonably ask, ‘ls this necessity arising from war?’ “That, is just the position in regard to petrol. The motor trade has been and is willing to make every sacrifice that the necessities of war dictate. We are prepared to concede the need for petrol rationing within reason. But. when the New Zealand motorist is allowed less petrol than many British private car owners and less than half the petrol ration of the Australian motorist, we must feel that the vast industrial and commercial ’structure built on petrol is being placed in jeopardy for reasons outside the requirements of our wartime economy.”

VIEWS OF MOTOR TRADE FEDERATION

A comparison of the basis petrol allowances, for private users in New Zealand, Great Britain and Australia is given as follows: — Petrol Allowance in Gallons New Great

The figures for Great Britain were taken from the “Motor" of June 5; the Australian figures from the bulletin of the Australian Liquid Fuel Control Board.

MORE PETROL IN ENGLAND. “The New Zealand owners of 8 h.p. cars, 14 h.p. cars and cars 20 h.p. and more,” the statement continues, “receive a smaller petrol allowance than their English counterparts. Remember that these three classes make up by farthe largest part of the motor-cars operating in New Zealand. In the last three year, two out of every three new cars sold in New Zealand were in one of these three classes which receive greater petrol allowance in England. “The Australian petrol allowances are, of course, in almost all cases, more than double the New Zealand ration. We have no information on the petrol allowance for business users in England, but the Australian scheme allows them liberal treatment. “Such protests as we raise against this state of affairs are no refusal on the part of the New Zealand people to practise war time self-denial. Suffering and sacrifice we are prepared to share with good heart, provided it ensures the security of our national existence. Such rationing as is necessary we will accept, but rationing more severe than that adopted in England—'right at the seat of war—appears to us both ill-advised and unnecessary. “There seems to be no logical reason which could be supported in fact and not merely in theory, to warrant such severe rationing. , There seems no justification for the complete wiping out of hundreds of thousands of pounds in earnings every year and of thousands on thousands of pounds of taxation revenue, to save a tittle of that sum in dollar exchange or overseas credit, or whatever it is the Government is trying to save. “There seems to be no right thinking in this scale of rationing which will bring ruin to many in the motor business, will bring (yes, has brought) unemployment in its train, is seriously reducing the Government’s taxation revenue and dangerously impairing the soundness of the Dominion’s essential motor transport services.”

Class Zealand Britain Australia Up to 7 h.p. 4 4 10 Up to 8 h.p. 4 5 10 Up to 9 h.p. 4 □ 11 Up to 10 h.p. 6 . 6 11 Up to 12 h.p. 6 6 13 Up to 14 h.p. 6 7 14 Up to 15 h.p. 8 7 16 Up to 19 h.p. 8 8 16 Up to 20 h.p. 8 10 16 Up to 30 h.p. 8 10 19 More than 30 h.p. 8 10 23