PETROL RATIONING

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 17

PETROL RATIONING

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—The Minister for Supply has just made an urgent appeal for a further reduction in the consumption of petrol, and states that unless this reduction can be made voluntarily there will have to be further rationing. May I, as a motorist, suggest that a reduction in the present ration should at once be made. Otherwise, the whole of the reduction aimed at will have to be borne by the more conscientious users, while others, not so conscientious, will use every drop they can get. This is always the way in an appeal of this kind, and it is most unfair. We do not know what is in store for us, and it is conceivable that before very long there may be no .petrol at all for private vehicles and perhaps not very much for public ones. This would be unfortunate because an unused motor rapidly deteriorates, and at any time every vehicle might be needed for some urgent national purpose. There should be no question of running cars merely for pleasure in these days, except for short distances, and that only occasionally. The end in view should be to maintain our cars .in good running order, and that could be achieved by a run of a dozen miles or so about twice a week. The present ration allows for well over 200 miles running a month. It could be reduced by one-third or even one half. It is also quite obvious that there might very well be a large saving in public utilities, and it is very pleasing to read an announcement by the Minister for Transport that certain road services are to be suspended. —Yours, etc., i GEORGE INGRAM. June 21, 1940.-