CTatoiFap tiini’s-Ay FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1942. PETROL ALLOWANCES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1942, Page 2

CTatoiFap tiini’s-Ay FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1942. PETROL ALLOWANCES.

- —» RECENTLY the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, announced a partial restoration, which took effect this week, of petrol rations to licensed public passenger vehicles, privately-onned business trucks and non-vehicle users ol petrol. i\lr SuHiian stated also that if the petrol position continued to be satisfactory it- would be possible t<Y make some allowance to private car-owners in. March. The nature of the further statement on the last-mentioned question the Minister has promised to make at an early date is likely to be influenced considerably by the latest turn of events in the Pacific war zone. Even those owners of ears who are inconvenienced most heavily by the present restrictions, and the motor-servicing trade in the serious extent to which it is prejudiced by the refusal of petrol for use in private cars, no doubt will agree that the claims of private motorists must be subordinated absolutely to war demands and also to those of public goods and passenger services and other essential branches of commercial transport. Some public and commercial services dependent on petrol are second in importance only to actual, war activities. They have in many instances a direct bearing on these activities. Private motorists are not entitled, particularly in these days of grave emergency, to grumble oxer being relegated to a less important category and few of them, it may be supposed, will be inclined to do so. What private motorists are entitled to expect, however, is that they should be told frankly and explicitly where they stand in the matter of petrol supplies. It would be most unfair and undesirable, for example, to grant motorists a little petrol up to the time of the next licensing period, and then or shortly afterwards to tell them that supplies must be cut off completely again. Motorists certainly are entitled to protect themselves and to be protected by the Government, against a useless licensing of cars which they will not be permitted to use. Taking account of the present war outlook in the Pacific and elsewhere, it seems in fact, very doubtful whether continuing supplies of petrol can be made available to motorists in the immediate future. The genera] prospect raised is that of the need of an undivided concentration of resources on the winning of the war. A. strict control of petro] supplies is essential and must be accepted, but the question of fair and open dealing as between the Government and motorists may fairly be raised. A related question of considerable importance is that of the desirability, in the national interest, of maintaining at least a proportion of the private motor vehicles of the Dominion in a state of mobility. ’With petrol, supplies cut off, most private cars of necessity will be laid up. A very small and uncertain petrol ration would not greatly alter that state of affairs. ft may be worth while to consider the establishment of conditions in which as many cars of an approved standard as may be thought desirable would be kept in a state of mobility, at minimum cost to individual, owners and to the State. A substantial reduction in the licence fee would be reasonable in the case of cars permitted to be used only to the minimum extent that will keep them ready for service if required.

Croquet Match. At the Masterton Park this week a match was played for the Gold Buttons when Mesdames Bassett and Polson (holders) beat Misses Card and Nix, 26/4. Christmas Parcel Acknowledged. Some time ago the children of the Masterton West Side School held a penny concert and from the proceeds two Christmas parcels were sent overseas. As a sequel the children have received a letter from Lt. Colonel C. A. L. Treadwell, of the Middle East Forces, in which he expresses his warmest thanks for the good things contained in the parcel he received. In a most interesting letter Lt.-Colonel Treadwell states that life in the desert would be difficult to endure but for the kindness of the people at home. He wished the children success in their examinations. A Disappointment Ahead. Wardens of the Emergency Precautions Service in Auckland have located in the course of their duties .many motor-car owners who are holding reserves of petrol with the intention of driving out of the city in the event of an enemy attack. Many such people are known to have their cars ready loaded with provisions, clothing, and even camping gear. Officials of the service stated that private persons who expected to drive their ears after an alarm had sounded would find themselves effectually prevented from doing so. Warden personnel had instructions to stop all such traffic. If anyone succeeded in getting away from a residential street and on to a main road, he would inevitably be held up by the emergency traffic control officers. The only motor-vehicles allowed to travel during an alarm were those of the Armed Forces and the E.P.S. Methodist Church and War. "The Church recognises and the State recognises that there are those whose conscience will not permit them to bear arms. There is need for the Church and the State more fully to clarify the position in regard to the bona-fide conscientious objector for the guidance of appeal boards.” This statement was made by the Rev. W. Walker in his presidential address at the opening of the Methodist Conference in Wellington yesterday, when referring to the official attitude of that Church to the war effort. A little more sweet reasonableness on both sides, he said, would make for far more harmonious working. Surely it was not too much to expect that the objector to combatant service should be more than willing to perform some other form of needful service as directed by the State? It behoves every person to do all that lies in his power loyally to assist his country and Empire in this time of dire need,” he said. Permission to Marry Needed. Human interests not usually within the scope of Government regulations are closely affected by the new laws declaring certain industries to be essential. For instance, girls working in those industries, which include many types of hospitals, have to seek official permission before leaving to marry. A number of such applications have been made in Christchurch already to the District Manpower Officer, Mr H. L. Read. The official attitude to such requests, as explained by Mr Read, is that the Government stops no one from marrying. If it is a girl’s intention to set up a home after marriage she is given permission to leave the industry for that purpose. However, if the husband has to go away on active service and it is not expected in the meantime to set up a permanent home, it is thought better that a girl in an essential industry should go back to it so that the country may keep the services of a skilled worker. In such cases leave is granted.