Europe Reducing Oil Consumption

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 15

Europe Reducing Oil Consumption

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. British motorists appear to be heeding the Government’s appeal to conserve petrol supplies and fewer cars than usual were seen on the roads during the week-end. But it is believed that rationing will be inevitable after Christmas.

Most West European countries have cut oil and petrol supplies and restricted private motoring in an attempt to conserve vital stocks while the Suez Canal is blocked. But the crisis has so far not affected Christma. supplies. Reports from European capitals give the following picture:

Paris.— France has cut fuel oil allocations and petrol deliveries by about one-third, and restricted private motoring. But no rationing or new motoring restrictions are contemplated during an experimental goodwill period of two to three weeks. Berne. —The Swiss Government has banned pleasure motoring and motorcycling on Sundays and public holidays from this week-end and ordered a 20 per cent, cut in petrol consumption. Rome.— The Italian Government has ordered a 5 per cent, cut in fuel oil supplies which are estimated to be sufficient for the next six weeks. Bonn. — West German oil firms have increased prices of petrol and oil fuels

and cut supplies to dealers by up to 20 per cent.

Brussels.—A 10 per eent. cut in petrol deliveries to retailers will come into force on November 25. "Unnecessary" week-end motoring will also be banned and motor coach trips stopped, but buses and taxis will be allowed to run normally. Oslo.—The Norwegian Government has ordered a 10 per cent, cut in deliveries of oil and petrol for industry, heating and transport. If strictly observed. this would be sufficient to avoid stricter rationing. Vienna.—There is little shortage of supplies except in fuel oil. which was not due to the closure of the Suez Canal, but to the large supplies that have to be sent to Russia under the Austrian State Treaty Agreement. The Governments of Malaya and Singapore today called on private motorists and industry to exercise restraint in the use of petrol, so thst stocks could be conserved. The Governments issued a joint statement saying that because of the Middle East situation, they had made a review of administrative arrangements necessary for the introduction of petrol rationing. The statement said that at present petrol stocks were “satisfactory” and there was no intention of introducing rationing in the immediate future.