PETROL COUPONS LOST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 299, 30 September 1939, Page 3

PETROL COUPONS LOST

APPEAL FOR CAREFULNESS. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, September 29. An appeal to motorists to be particularly careful in safeguarding their petrol coupons was made by the Controller of Oil Fuel (Mr G. L. Laurenson) to-day. “A number of cases has been reported to me of motorists losing their coupons,” said Mr Laurenson. “In every case the owner of the coupons was carrying around with him the whole 12 months* supply, although he might well have kept coupons for the next 11 months in a place of safety. In no case did the coupons carry any marks of ownership that would facilitate their return by the finder.” Mr Laurenson said that when plans for conservation of petrol were first prepared, an endeavour was made to work out a scheme of distribution that would cause the motorist the minimum of inconvenience. The coupon syst* in ior private cars had the advantages of simplicity, ease of working, and economy. No complicated forms had to be filled in when the petrol was furnished, and no proofs of ownership or identity were required. The fact that elaborate formalities were not required when obtaining petrol was appreciated by every motorist. The waiving of questions of identification and ownership, however, made it essential that the person issued with coupons should keep proper custody of them. The controller suggested that motorists should carry with them only those current coupons likely to be urgently required.