SOME " DRY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 150, 26 June 1937, Page 10

SOME " DRY."

RUSH ON BOWSERS.

DEMAND REACHES PEAK.

ANXIETY OF MOTORISTS.

The rush for petrol supplies at city and suburban filling stations reached a peak this morning, and the storage tanks at a number of bowsers were reported to be empty. One of the largest stations in Auckland would have .been out of supplies by* eight o'clock had not strict rationing been enforced. Even then the station expected to have to turn customers away by noon. -

At some stations, however, inquiries were answered with: "Everything's O.K. here. There's a heavy demand, but we are giving what they ask for." In spite of this it was realised that, should the dispute continue, the running "dry" of other stations would mean pressure on those whose supplies were holding out, resulting in an acute shortage early next week.

It may be just as well that the weather this morning did not promise much brightness for to-morrow, for the family might otherwise be torn between two temptations—to answer the lure of a fine day and go out on a pleasant Sunday afternoon jaunt in the car, risking the continuation of the dispute, or to stay at home and save every drop of petrol in the tank.

Greediness' of certain motorists had helped to run supplies short for others, declared the manager of the station this morning, and he foresaw dry storage tanks by noon. Restricting Supplies.

The rush was heaviest this morning —far heavier than usual," he. said. "If people would take their normal supplies the petrol would last several days longer. However, they're rushing round from station to station trying to get their tanks full—they're too greedy altogether. It looks as though there will be more petrol in the garages at home than there will be on the roads.

'We're not letting them do that here, though. We're nearly out now, and were giving only one and two gallons at a time—one to the small cars and two to the large," he added.

Ordinarily I would have broken mv neck to get a 25-gallon order," said another city station manager, "but when I got one a few minutes ago I turned it away. We're boxing along all right —preference to regular customers, but not more than four gallons at a time except in special cases. The medical profession, for instance, can have as much as it wants."

Some Are "Making Hay . . ." In three and a half hours late yesterday afternoon he had done about two days' ordinary business, and he had closed down early to conserve his supplies. Motorists had been getting "a bit hostile" when they couldn't get as much as they wanted, but he was being adamant. It was hard to say how long stocks would last, because as more stations ran "dry" the pressure on the remaining suppliers would grow heavier still.

On the other hand, other petrol Stations were supplying in the normal way and were not imposing any rationmar or similar restrictions. The manager of a big suburban station considered he had ample petrol to last until Monday or Tuesday should the dispute go on.

"I've never been so busy in all my life!" laughed happily a small suburban station proprietor, jerking a thumb at a long line of cars waiting for service. "How long will my stock last! Just till it's finished—and I'm not worrying till then!"

No fear was held of Immediate shortage of lubricating oil supplies. Most of the larger stations held ample oil in stock.