PETROL SUPPLIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 308, 5 October 1940, Page 3

PETROL SUPPLIES.

PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS. A petition to Parliament sponsored by the New Zealand'Motor Trade Federation is being circulated in Ashburton for the signatures of motorists. It asks for a relaxation of the present restrictions on petrol. AVith the petition are two pamphlets, one headed, “Twenty reasons why there is no -necessity for such severe petrol restrictions in New Zealand,” and the other detailing the Australian petrol rationing plan, together with a comparative table of rations in New Zealand, Great Britain, and Australia. Motorists in Ashburton have been eager to sign the petition. Text; of Petition. The petition states : —• That the restrictions imposed have caused needless unemployment and dislocation to industry and commerce, and are causing to remain partially idle and making ineffective an enormous productive investment in motor-cars and trucks. That these restrictions, by imposing undue hardship and forcing unnecessary curtailment of the normal Jjfe and movement of all members of the community, instead of helping our war effort, are actually crippling our ability to render effective help.

That the petrol restrictions in New Zealand are more severe than those in force in Great Britain, or than those proposed in Australia. That no other British Dominion has so far imposed any restriction on the use of petrol. That, in so far as we can ascertain, there is no restriction of petrol jn any of the Grown colonies, all of which are administered by the United Kingdom Government itself.

That there is a surplus of petrol throughout the world, and so plentiful supplies of petrol are available for importation into New Zealand. There is adequate tanker tonnage available to transport all our requirements to New Zealand. Amendments Necessary. That the petitioners believe that the following amendments to the petrol rationing procedure are necessary:— (a) The allowance for private users should be increased to the equivalent of 320 miles a month, as, for example :—• Motor-cycles, four gallons. Cars up to 9.5 li.p., eight gallons. Cars more than 9.5 h.p. and up to 14.7 h:p., 12 gallons. Cars more than 14.7 li.p., 16 gallons-. (b) The allowance granted to taxis and other commercial users should be increased by the amounts necessary to approximate more closely their true needs. (c) The right should be granted t/j all users to accumulate their coupons for a period of at least two months for vacations and other purposes. (d) Steps should be taken to ensure stability of rationing policy for a minimum period of six months. That the foregoing scale of allowances can be encompassed within a total usage of 7,000,000 gallons of petrol a month, which represents a very substantial reduction from normal consumption.