NO PETROL TO BE SOLD IN CANS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25269, 22 August 1947, Page 9

NO PETROL TO BE SOLD IN CANS

Restriction From To-day

ESSENTIAL USERS’ PERMITS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) mho e WELLINGTON, August 21. ine sale or petrol in containers without a permit is illegal as from August This was announced to-night by the Minister of Supply (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer), who explained that permission to sell in containers would be granted in cases where containers were necessary to enable farmers and others to carry on normal business. “This step has been taken,” sJid Mr Nordmeyer, “to counter the run on petrol stations during the last few days. We cannot afford to have our stocks of petrol jeopardised by wholesale hoarding for any purpose. Applications for permits to buy petrol in containers must be made to the subdistrict- oil fuel tontroller.

Reduction in Consumption The Government was giving immediate consideration to a method by which a reduction could be effected in the Dominion’s petrol consumption, • said Mr Nordmeyer to-day. The Minister said he had discussed the situation with representatives of the retail motor trade, petrol resellers, the Road Passenger Services’ Association, the Road Transport Alliance, the Master Carriers’ Federation, the North Island Motor Union, and oil companies, and it appeared at present that it would be possible to reduce consumption by the requisite amouht on a voluntary basis.

If a voluntary system were adopted, he was certain that oil companies, resellers and motorists generally would co-operate in assisting Britain to overcome her difficulties.