PETROL LICENSING ADVOCATED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 28, 13 November 1947, Page 4

PETROL LICENSING ADVOCATED

Dairy Companies In Auckland TEN PER CENT. CUT UNSUCCESSFUL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 11. Alarmed at the possible effects on the dairy industry of petrol rationing through reseller control, some dairy companies in Auckland Province have made urgent representations to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. E. L. Cullen), seeking an immediate return to the petrol licensing system. i With the butter and cheese, production figures steadily mounting for thd season in most districts and harvesting about to begin, dairy factories which are the main suppliers of petrol to dairy farmers, are faced with an increased dehiand for petrol- on top of the 10 per cent cut in their allocation. Several factories have already been advised by the Oil Fuel Controller that they must supply figures of monthly sales or consumption from October, 1946, to September, 1947, and managers fear that on this basis they will nbt receive sufficient petrol to meet the increased demand for this season. Under the Motor Spirits Retail Restriction Notice brought out this month it is expected that the cut will be 10 per cent as’ for other retailers. Efforts to restrict their petrol sales b ylO per cent, which were made by some factories when the cut was first announced, have been unsuccessful, as except for a negligible sale for private use, all of their petrol was supplied to essential users. The needs of lorries operated by factories or contractors for tlie collection of cream and the cartage of fertiliser and supplies and demands for petrol for milking machines, water pump engines and farm equipment had to be met, and it was found impossible to cut dow r n on petrol without affecting production. One manager said that his factory had many new suppliers since last season, and additional farm machinery had been purchased by some farmers to aid the production drive. In spite of the drawbacks and inconveniences: of the licensing system he considered it was the only practicable solution to the present problem confronting factories. The Government could have more production or less petrol used, but not both, he said.