PETROL RATIONING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 170, 21 July 1941, Page 8

PETROL RATIONING

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA CHARCOAL ALSO SCARCE (0.C.) SYDNEY, July 16. The sudden announcement by the Federal Government on Tuesday night that the oil cartel had been abolished and that the Government had assumed direct control of the oil industry was naturally hailed by Mr. Beasley, a Labour member of the Advisory War Council, as proof of the truth of his allegations that by progressively restricting imports, as rationing reduces petrol sales the cartel, instead of helping Australia, was knocking" it. Whether this is true or not, the Government's action must at least be taken as an indication that it was not satisfied with the way the cartel system was working out. The Supply Minister, Senator McLeay, held out no hope of any improvement in rationing before next year and, meantime, desperate motor-1 ists are facing another difficulty—a shortage of charcoal for those who have gone to the expense of having their vehicles equipped with produ-cer-gas units. The New South Wales Government has appointed a manager of charcoal production and is selling charcoal produced from State forests at 4/ per 5661b bag. Publicity was given this week to a Rockdale engineer who is converting cars to an electric drive. The engine is lifted out, a 1-h.p. electric motor installed under the bonnet and a series of ordinary car batteries fitted in the boot. Gears are needed only on hills as the car starts on top. Top speed is 30 miles per hour, which is the limit in built-up areas anyway. It is claimed thf the batteries will give 50 to 60 mi!' running before they have to be n charged. Such a car, of course would be practicable only for city use, and in any case the cost of conversion, £150, is prohibitive for mo?' motorists. , Melbourne police claim they have ! uncovered a huge petrol racket bv. which a million gallons of petrol have been illegally sold, netting the racketeers £12.000. The police claim that ration tickets were obtained bv means of faked car registration certificates and petrol licenses, and that th- ticket- w~v~ then sold mr"v at 'at the rate of 3d fo • a "tiion ( >ou-' pon. It was t.hf? fr - -h-n th--» bogu-;: tickets were sold It -Mv at raco < courses that gave th? show away. " '