RATIONING OF PETROL

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25955, 8 November 1949, Page 5

RATIONING OF PETROL

REINTRODUCTION BY AUSTRALIA POSSIBLE CHALLENGE TO FEDERAL ACTION BRISBANE, November 7. The Queensland Automobile Chamber of Commerce intends this week to seek an injunction to prevent the Commonwealth Government from rationing petrol. It is prepared to postpone action if its advisers decide that such a course would render the petrol issue sub judice and preclude public discussion during the Federal election campaign. In that event, it will not approach the Court until after polling day, December 10. Petrol rationing, which was discontinued on June 6 when the Federal High Court upheld a claim by a member of the Queensland Automobile Chamber of Commerce that rationing was illegal, will be reintroduced by the Commonwealth Government next Monday. The secretary of the chamber (Mr W. L. Pope) said that some State Governments had anticipated the chamber’s challenge and had introduced alternative rationing legislation. He added that the motor trade believed that rationing was not needed, and * that this view was also held by the National Road Motorists’ Association and the National Automobile Club. Speaking at an election meeting, the Federal Minister of Transport (Mr E. J. Ward) said that petrol rationing might remain in force for two years, because it might take two years to install more refineries in the sterling area.

‘We are facing a General Election on December 10,” he added, “and if petrol rationing were not absolutely essential this Government would not have reimposed it.”