PETROL RATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1941, Page 4

PETROL RATIONS

FURTHER REDUCTION LIKELY STATEMENT BY MINISTER. SHIPPING AND OTHER DIFFICULTIES. •By Telegraph—Press Association.' AUCKLAND. January 27. An indication of deterioration in the petrol supply situation and the likelihood of an intensification of restrictions to users was given by the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in addressing the conference of the New Zealand Master Grocers' Federation. Mr. Sullivan said the prospects relating to petrol were less bright, the situation arising from difficulties of shipping. The extent to which it would be possible to maintain the present supply to private owners might depend to some extent on the manner in which trades could rationalise their deliveries. The problem of rationalisation was admittedly very difficult and delicate and the solution depended greatly on the extent to which industry and commerce throughout the country would assist, the Minister continued. ’ The authorities could work out a scheme but persons engaged in trade were better acquainted with the diffi-’ culties and were so better fitted to arrange further rationing in order to serve the interests of the Imperial Government and to help in compliance with its most recent requests relating to its petrol and shipping policy. Mr. Sullivan appealed for full cooperation of those engaged in industry and commerce and also from local bodies in the working out of the new rationing proposals that would reduce the consumption of petrol to a minimum consistent with efficiency.

"I do not want to do that job nor ! do my officers want to do it." he said. ! "We want to get the benefit of the experience of those in trade and industry in accomplishing it. "You can take it from me that when I say we are trying to meet the wishes of the United Kingdom Government in this matter I am telling you the simple truth. We are not trying to shelter behind that Government in an attempt to help some domestic situation or to help the New Zealand Government or Mr. Nash to conserve dollar funds. The situation has gone much deeper than that in the past three or four weeks. If Chambers of Commerce and others in industry will help to save petrol they will be rendering a very great service in these times of difficulty."