PETROL RATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 295, 20 September 1940, Page 3

PETROL RATION

EARLY INCREASE PREDICTED.

SIX MONTHS’ SUPPLY SOUGHT. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, Tins Day. The figure of 40,000,000 gallons, as the petrol reserve aimed at by the Government was given at a meeting of the council of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, last evening. The belief was also expressed that this reserve would be attained soon, and that a relaxation of the restrictions would take place early in October. The statements were made by Mr F. "W. Freeman, who said he had been talking to a member of Parliament. “As I understand it the position is that we lack storage in New Zealand,” he said. “I understand that we are aiming at a reserve of more than 40,000,000 galloons—about half the present restricted annual consumption —to give us six months’ supply; and that the position will arrive soon, or early in October, when, it is understood, we shall get another coupon.”

RESOLUTION AT HASTINGS. ' HASTINGS, September 19. Members of the motor industry discussed the effects of petrol rationing to-night when the following resolution was passed: “That this meeting, representative of 157 garage and service station employees in Hastings, views with alarm the drastic effects of the Government’s policy of petrol rationing throughout the Dominion, and realises that unless immediate steps are taken to increase the allowance, a. large percentage of employees will be unemployed, becoming a further drain on the country’s resources on Social Security.’’

A suggestion that employees should withhold union dues until some action was taken by the Government, was favoured by the meeting.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. AUCKLAND, September 19. The council of the Chamber of Commerce decided to support the Canterbury Chamber, which proposed to send a deputation to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) asking for a relaxation of the petrol restrictions, at least to the extent of granting the amount of petrol available before July 1 last. The president (Mr Spencer) said they should ask why they got less than in England, and a great deal less limn in Australia. VIEWPOINT OF EMPLOYEES DUNEDIN, Sept. 19. A petition signed by 263 workers in the Dunedin motor industry has been forwarded to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P Fraser) urging that at least 7,000,000 gallons of petrol be released monthly to give them reasonable security in employment.

EFFECT ON BRITISH INDUSTRY. WELLINGTON, September 19. Claiming that supplies of petrol issued in New Zealand were so low that th«# economic life of the‘country was being affiected, the annual meeting of the Motor Trade Federation this morning supported the president (Mr'C. K- Edmond) in a statement that another million gallons a month was required. Mr Edmond produced a letter from a large British motor manufacturer in which an appeal was made for a market in New Zealand. “We would like to respond to that appeal, but cannot unless there is some easing in the petrol situation. On the one hand wc have the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom telling us that we must conserve petrol, and on the other one of the leading, motor manufacturers in England pleading with us to buy their goods. There must be some place in the middle where wo can meet and do both things.” Mr W. E. Hill said the industry had never opposed petrol rationing as a principle but contended that there was a point beyond which rationing could not go without serious effect on the economic life of the Dominion. / PETITION FROM NORTH OTAGO. 0 AMARU, This Daq. Over 80 employees of the motor industry in North Otago have sent to the Minister of Labour a petition seeking his support for an increase in petrol rations to prevent further unemployment in their ranks.