NO PLEASURE MOTORING

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23587, 14 March 1942, Page 7

NO PLEASURE MOTORING

DECISION MADE IN BRITAIN COUPON RATIONS END IN JULY (8.0. W.) RUGBY, March 12. “These measures are designed to end pleasure motoring for the present and I should emphasise that the Government will want all unessential cars to be taken off the road,” said the Petroleum Secretary (Mr Geoffrey Lloydl in announcing further petrol restrictions in the House of Commons to-day. The Minister said that the necessity to look well ahead in the management of oil supplies had led to a drastic reduction in private motoring at the very beginning of the war. That measure had made a large and continuing contribution to the strength of the oil position, but the development of the war now made it necessary to impose further substantial reductions in the interests of a prudent oil policy. The value, therefore, of the basic ration coupons for May and June would be halved, and. as from July 1, the basic ration itself would cease to exist. Genuine needs would have to be proved by persons applying for supplementary allowances to make up for the loss of the basic ration, and consideration would be shown to people living in rural districts with inadequate transport services. Entertainment Restrictions Details of the new Government policy regarding public entertainment were given by the Lord Chancellor (Lord Simon) in the House of Commons. “The Government’s wartime policy has been to permit them to continue on a restricted basis in the belief that, within reason, popular entertainments act as a.lubricant rather than as a brake on the War machine,” he said. "Limitations on attendances have been imposed, and entertainments which attract large crowds, such as horse'and dog racing and football matches, have been mainly confined to days and times least likely to affect essential work. Special measures have also been taken to avoid additional burdens on the transport services or delays of workers going to or from their place of duty. “All forms of public entertainment have been made subject to immediate cessation should security circumstances require it. Power to prohibit or restrict public entertainments has, in the past, been confined to imposing restrictions where they were necessary in minimising risk in consequence of war operations, but further appreciable restrictions have been obtained by agreement with the controlling bodies of the various entertainments concerned.” Lord Simon expressed appreciation of the helpful attitude of these bodies, and added that the Government was taking additional powers to provide for control of public entertainments where it was needed to avoid interference with the national effort. Restrictions On Racing Horse racing meetings had already been cut to about 20 per cent, of the pre-war figure, and it was proposed to further restrict them to a few courses selected with a view to economy in the use of public transport. Greyhound racing would be restricted to one day a week for each track, and it would be permitted only on Saturdays and public holidays. No new tracks would be allowed to be put into operation. Professional boxing shows had already been reduced to about 10 per cent, of the pre-war figure, and the question of further restrictions arose mainly in respect of large and spectacular events. Professional football had been largely confined to Saturdays and public holidays and local early closing days. Local competitions had been formed for area groups of clubs in order to avoid travelling. It was not proposed to apply any further restrictions at present. The same remark applied to theatres, cinemas, and dancing. ... There remained the question of large accumulations of cars at sports functions which undoubtedly had been offensive to the public feeling. The Petroleum Secretary had made a statement which had an effective relationship to this aspect of the problem.

“These restrictions represent an appreciable reduction in the amount of nublic recreation,” said Lord Simon. “In the exercise of these new powers the Government will not impose more restrictions than the war requirements render expedient, but such requirements must obviously he of first consideration. and there will be no hesitation in imposing such .further restrictions as may be needed in the interests of the war effort. On the other hand, there is no intention of imposing needless hindrances to recreation or carrying the restrictions so far that total war necessarily becomes total misery.”

DAMAGE TO NAZI ('REISER PRINZ EUGEN IN TRONDHEIM VESSEL SAID TO BE UNSEAWORTHY • Received March 13, 10 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. There is confirmation that the German cruiser, Prinz Eugen, which is at Trondheim, was more severely damaged in its escape from Brest than was at first believed, says the Stockholm representative of the “Daily Telegraph.” The cruiser was hit in a vulnerable section aft, causing damage to the steering gear, propellers, and engineroom. She is at present unseaworthy. It is expected that the Prinz Eugen will attempt to return to its home base after emergency repairs because Trondheim has no dock big enough to accommodate her. The Admiral von Tirpitz, which was recently attacked by torpedo-carrying aircraft, put into Trondheim to refuel. Royal Air Force experts have been over Kiel inspecting the damage done to the German battleship Gneisenau. which is now in dry dock. They report that the damage to the vessel is extensive. All the plates from the bows to the forward turrets have been stripped off, and plates have also been removed down to the waterline. The ship is now being covered with camouflage.