SAVING PETROL

Auckland Star, 12 May 1941, Page 8

SAVING PETROL

TRANSPORT SERVICES SPORTS BODIES AFFECTED Enormous saving in petrol and vehicle hours had been made as the result of co-ordination in road transport services, said No. 1 Licensing Authority, Mr. E. J. Phelan, to-day. He instanced a newly formed merger that had transported 30,000 sheep this season with the use of one truck. In the past the same work had been done by several vehicles. "All merger groups are working economically and satisfactorily," he said.

Mr. Phelan said that at the outset of the merger policy farmers were greatly opposed to the scheme as they thought it would create monopolies and dictatorial powers to those who were granted licenses. This feeling had now vanished, the mergers having been found to be in the interests of all concerned. Farmers realised to-day that they benefited as well as the country generally. Improved services and conservation of petrol had been the outcome of the policy.

Referring to the impressment of motor vehicles, Mr. Phelan said his office had been fully employed for long hours for the last month hearing appeals in connection with impressment of trucks and other vehicles required for army use. The work was now in its final stages and he thought that the authority could fairly claim that due consideration had been given to cases where vehicles were urgenly needed for essential operations. The impressment scheme had caused worry to many owners, but speaking generally those who had been affected had taken the position philosophically and he had been surprised at the amount of help extended by those who had had to make sacrifices. Impressment The impressment of vehicles belonging to ancillary users was throwing more work upon the regular operators of services and the authority had asked' licensees to give as much assistance as possible to farmers and firms that had had their vehicles taken. "I had a deputation wait upon me representative of the sports bodies of Auckland," continued Mr. Phelan.

"They desired to know what was to be the policy in connection with road services in their relation to the carrying of teams. I was unable to give a direct answer at the moment, but 1 told the deputation that only important events would receive consideration in respect to temporary licenses.

"We expect sports bodies to as.-ist us as far as they can in the direction of conserving benzine. Junior fixtures and ordinary cup fixtures necessitating extensi%c travelling will in future have to be curtailed considerably." Mr. Phelan also mentioned the inconvenience that bus users had to suffer owing to vehicles and services being overtaxed. The import restrictions were responsible for this to a large extent. New vehicles were not coming to hand and operators had to cater for additional passengers owing to petrol restrictions and other causes. He counselled the travelling public to be tolerant, as abnormal conditions were being' experienced and inconvenience was unavoidable.