MORE PETROL?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 234, 2 October 1940, Page 12

MORE PETROL?

HOUSE PETITIONED.

SECURITY OF EMPLOYMENT.

WELLINGTON, this day.

An immediate increase in the monthly allowance of petrol to all who use motor transportation wa» sought in a petition by motor mechanics and others engaged in the motor industry, all of Christchurch, which was presented in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. Holland (National, Christchurch North). Mr. Holland asked for the petition to be read by the Clerk of the House, but the Clerk had not got far when the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, interposed, suggesting that the petition contained propaganda that wae outside the scope of a petition. After looking at the petition, the Speaker (Mr. Barnard) suggested that it would be advisable t<J discontinue the reading- and Mr. Holland said he was prepared to agree to that course.

The petition pointed out that loss of employment had resulted in Chrietchurch, a& in other parts of the Dominion, because of the petrol restrictions. The petitioners asked that they be allowed to live up to the request that they "work for their lives." They contended it was evident that ample petrol was available at the source of supply and that shipe were available to bring it to New Zealand, also that the usage of petrol would not hinder in any way the necessary war work, but would help them to play their part through decent employment. They expressed, the opinion that the "present severe" restrictione would have the effect of spreading unemployment far beyond the bounds of their own trade, and thus would affect very seriously the standard of living of all New Zealand workers who had the right to demand their national heritage of honest employment.

Their request wae that at least 7,000,000 gallons of petrol be made available each month to give them reasonable security .of employment at their trade. —(Parliamentary Reporter.)