"UP THE SLEEVE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 11

"UP THE SLEEVE."

PETROL COUPONS.

SOME WRONG NUMBERS USED.

SCHEME WORKING SMOOTHLY.

Although every effort has been made to simplify the procedure for the rationing of petrol, instances of confusion having arisen have already come to the notice of officials. The coupons "which are being issued to motorists number from 1 to 48, and it has been discovered that some bowser attendants have been accepting coupons 41 to 43, instead of from 1 to 3.

While in the long run the motorist who has received petrol from the highly-numbered coupons will receive 110 more petrol than any other motorists, he has for the time being "six gallons of petrol up his sleeve," as an official, who is one of those administering the scheme, describes it. In other words, he has already received sis gallons of petrol, the quantity to which he is entitled until the end of the present month, and has still in his possession three coupons which will give him an additional six gallons. In drawing attention to tliis V fact this morning, the official stated that garage proprietors should instruct their staffs to accept in the meantime only coupons numbered 1 to 3.

Yesterday approximately 8500 motorists attended the Chief Post Office and received their coupons, and the pressure on the staff to-day was just as acute, and became progressively heavier as the morning wore 011. At 2 p.m. motorists were still lining up in their hundreds and were expected to keep the staff busy until closing hour at 8 p.m.

[ A big staff is engaged to handle the position and, with quiet efficiency they are putting motorists through at an average rate of 600 an hour. In addition to hundreds of applications for petrol for commercial vehicles and cars, the officiate are attending to the requirements of motor cyclists, and this morning it was noticeable that there was a greater demand for coupons being made by the last-mentioned section of the motoring public. Model of Simplicity. I he coupon-issuing scheme is a model of simplicity, and is in no way comparable with the usual relicensing period, when at least two forms are required to be completed. Under the system now in vogue an owner has merely to give the registration number of his car, name the make, give his own name and supply evidence of identity— by means of a driving license, for example. An offcer has before him cards relating to the registration of the car. On receiving the information mentioned, he produces the registration card, takes the signature of the applicant, and hands him his sheet of coupons. Where an owner performs his task promptly, little more than a minute, elapses in the transaction of obtaining coupons, and queues are kept moving steadily. It is explained, however, that where the applicant is not the registered owner of the car tor which petrol is required, then he should be armed with written authority to make the application from the registered owner. In the case of firms, managers should attend, with authority, possibly signed by themselves, on the printed letter paper of the concern they represent.

The public has accepted the restrictions 011 petrol in true wartime spirit, and generally speaking are co-operating in every way with the officials, who have an arduous task in ministering to their petrol needs. They realise that the present is a time of emergencv, and are appreciative of the facilities which are being placed at their disposal by the postal officials, who are working with such smoothness of organisation that the formation of queues in is being avoided.