TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 74, 9 January 1936, Page 8

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

CARS RETURN TO ITALY The latest rise in the price of petrol which now costs 5s 2d a gallon, is driving private cars off the reads of Italy. Only well-to-do people can now affor to run even a “baby” car. Many cars are being laid up in the hope that motoring will be cheaper next year. But thousands of owners have decided to sell, and the market is flooded with second-hand cars, states the “Daily Telegraph.” Thanks to the price cf petrol, Rome’s acute traffic problem is beginning to solve itself. Official and diplomatic cars, Army and Air Force lorries, taxis —which have just raised their fares again—and Diesel-engined buses now constitute the bulk of the city traffic. The old horse carriage, which had been going out of favour, are no longer scorned, and the “cabbies” are looking forward to renewed prosperity. Foreign tourists motoring in Italy are allowed to buy a certain amount of petrel at a cheaper rate. This involves however, a complicated ' system of vouchers, obtainable at the frontier and valid only if the traveller stays at certain high-class hotels during his tour. Members of the Diplomatic Corps can also obtain petrol at a reduced price. Taxation is responsible for all but a fraction of the high price paid by the Italian consumer. The few Italians who can still afford te> motor for pleasure arc alarmed liy rumours that the Government’s next economy measure will bo to place a general ban on private cars at weekends. But is is considered unlikely that Signor Mussolini will give this filial death-blow to the goose that lays the golden eggs. Owners of foreign cars and motorcycles manufactured in “Sanctionist” countries are also perturbed at the prospect of being unable to obtain spare parts.