PETROL AND HOME DEFENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 284, 1 December 1941, Page 6

PETROL AND HOME DEFENCE

MR. Fraser's heart is not wrung for those who cannot go a few miles in their cars because petrol is rationed. It would have been nearer the truth if he said for those who can go a few miles, for that is the limit that anyone can go under to-day's ration. A national reserve stock of petrol, he said, is essential, for the country would be finished if such a stock were not available in the event of attack. The ration has been clamped on very hard indeed, but have other avenues of petrol saving been given a thought? Mid-week racing, for instance. That goes on just as it did before the war, and week after week thousands of people of all classes of -the community assemble in carnival spirit on working days. The normal flow of business is interrupted, not only by those on the course, but for thousands of others who break into their working time to bet with the hundreds of bookmakers who thrive in every city. The assembly of cars on these race days, the number of petrol-driven horse floats on the roads, the constant stream of taxis and buses give evidence enough that a very large amount of petrol is consumed on such entirely unwarranted meetings, gatherings which interfere with production and the war effort in a score of ways. Saturdays and public holidays provide quite sufficient outlet for the racing enthusiast, and even if Mr. Fraser is left cold by the plight of the rationed motorist he might well take time to investigate whether an effective means of adding to his stock might be provided by a limitation of racing to its proper time when there is a war on, and by other economies, rather than by making it still more difficult for the average car owner. Mr. Fraser, while praising New Zealand's war effort, felt that we could do more still. A certain and an easy way for increasing that effort has been pointed out, but so far no disposition to take it has ever been shown by Cabinet. A little of the amount thus saved might be provided for members of the Home Guard, who have made many well-founded pleas for a little extra consideration in the way of allowances to enable members to travel to and from their weekly training areas.