PETROL RATION

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24371, 25 September 1944, Page 3

PETROL RATION

DEMAND FOR REVISION “SUPPLIES AVAILABLE” The petrol situation was discussed at some length at the conference in Christchurch of th 6 South Island Motor Union. , • ■ It was decided that the executive of both islands should frame a suitable letter to the ’Prime 'Minister (the Rt. Hen. P. Fraser) ashing him to review the position now that thp waft situation had changed, also urging that the full coupon value: should be available for the months’Of December, January, and February, and that the coupon, should be interchangeable. "I hardly know what to say regarding petrol,’V said the;, chairman: (Mr W. R. Carey) when -reporting to the conference. "We are still observing what may be called a truce. You will remember that the Prime Minister gave us an undertaking that we could expect a favourable review of the situation when war; conditions in the Pacific had improved. Therefore, we had permitted the problem to remain in abeyance. But the situation has now changed.” "Mr Carey: alluded to the recent statement by Fleld-Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, that the 4 ., European war would be over by the end of the year. “And he has not been wrong yet.” commented the chairman. .- There was no doubting the fact;, he continued, that if petrol was wanted for New Zealand it could be obtained. “It is true that we have, not yet won the war,” he said, “but we would appreciate an assurance from the Prime Minister that when the war ceases in Europe motorists will have an adequate supply, of petrol.” Would the, conference, agree, he asked, to approach Mr Fraser for the purpose of assuring adequate, supplies by putting the'matter in hand now? “I believe that petrol can be - purchased and that it can be brought into New Zealand,” he declared. Commenting on the rubber situation. Mr Carey said he thought that adequate supplies of both real and synthetic rubber would also be available. The rubber situation, he believed, would gdjust Itself more quickly than the petrol question.' "But I think we should concentrate upon petrol first,” he added,