PETROL RATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 9

PETROL RATION

TRADE CRITICISM DOING MORE THAN SHARE INSINCERITY ALLEGED (By Telegraph. —Press Association). WELLINGTON, Tuesday The_Govemment was criticised for the restrictions placed on the motor trade at the annual conference of trade representatives today, on the grounds that the restrictions were not entirely for war purposes and that the trade was being asked to do more for sterling conservation than other sections of the community. The Mayor of Wellington, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, opening the conference, referred to the control under the War Regulations as it affected the City Electricity Department. He said the Oil Fuel Controller wanted wage increases to be submitted to him for approval. He had a pretty good idea that the council would not do that. . The president of the New Zealand Motor Trades Federation, Mr C. R. Edmund, said the trade was suffering from three main factors, for which the Government was responsible. There was a lack of frankness and a lack of sincerity, and the co-operation available from the trade had not been used. No Care For Stocks The Government had done nothing, and so far as he knew was doing nothing to keep up fuel stocks. If it had done so the additional restrictions could have been avoided. It was not until the beginning of July that the Minister of Finance, the H<>n. W. Nash, said that the restrictions were required to conserve petrol, Mr Edmund continued. The motor trade had made a great contribution to the war effort, and was entitled to ask for some assurance regarding the future.