PETROL CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 214, 11 September 1939, Page 9

PETROL CONTROL.

BUSINESS LICENSES.

RESTRICTIONS LIFTED.

i'U XX ALLOCATION MADE.

An outcome of the decision to errant 10 gallons of petrol a month to privatecar owners who nse their vehicles for pleasure, as from next Friday, is the easing of restrictions on business cans. From to-day the economies imposed on business cars will be less stringent.

Many anomalies have arisen following the Ministers announcement on Saturday, and the authorities at the Chief Post Office have been l>esieged by inquirers. When the regulation* were first announced owners of business cars were asked to apply for the irreducible minimum of petrol necessary for the carrying on of their businesses. Those who submitted returns requesting an amount similar to that used in normal times were frequently refused. Thus many motorists in this category have !>een granted licenses for less than 10 gallons per month, and are in a worse position than those using their cars purely for pleasure. Full Amount for Business Men. It was officially stated to-day that the full amount of petrol required for business purposes will be granted. The point was stressed, however, that there should be no waste, and that wherever possible economy should be exercised in the national interest.

Until new instructions are issued on Friday local authorities have no

authority to issue to business cars licenses for full business needs in addition to 10 gallons a month for pleasure. That is a point that will be made clear during the month. It implies that in the meantime business cars are to be used for business only.

The new move is likely to bring ironicretribution to many Auckland motorists who conceived the idea of registering their cars for business purposes. Although some of these had formerly been used solely for pleasure others were used both for pleasure and business. When the restriction was placed on the issue of benzine for private purposes there was an immediate rush to register these cars for business purj>oses, a manoeuvre appraised at its face value by tiie control authorities.

These cars may now be use<l only for business purposes. Had there been no change in registration the owners would have been permitted 10 gallons per month for pleasure. Officials are grimly amused, although there is a suggestion that the former manoeuvre may be repeated and tiie cars blossom out again as purely private cars. Attitude to Hoarders. A serious view is being taken in various quarters of the hoarding of benzine. Many of the offenders are known and action tinder the stringent regulations is contemplated. Although private owners are to be allowed a limited amount of petrol there is «till no change in the attitude against hoarders. Attention is drawn to the fact that benzine stored privately in bulk is not only illegal, but also an extremely dangerous practice. There is a general provision in every fire insurance policy prohibiting the storage of benzine in bull;. 1 bus the owner of premises or furniture destroyed by fil'e will find that his policy is void if it is disclosed that petrol has been stored.

Petrol not'only burns, but it is a dangerous exploitive. Xo matter how much care is taken in making it airtight, there is usually an escape of fumes, and if the benzine is stored beneath a house, say In a basement, there is serious danger of an explosion, causing material damage and loss of life.

There was a noticeable increase in the number of cars on the roads to-day, and the easing of the restrictions will reduce the number of dismissals that have been made necessary in the motor and allied industries.