Seeking Source Of Money For Petrol

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 1

Seeking Source Of Money For Petrol

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 13The money with which New Zealand and Australian sympathisers with the Smith Government bought petrol to give to Rhodesia did not come through normal banking channels. This was confirmed in Wellington today. But it. was indicated that an inquiry was still proceeding to establish where it did come from. A question is expected to be asked in Parliament on the subject.

“It is unlikely that we shall ever know,” said an official. “The sum involved was not large, and could have been obtained quite legally in a number of ways.”

Other sources confirmed that the amount required could have been made available by South African citizens now in New Zealand or Australia, who could have been given New Zealand currency to the value of money still in South Africa. It would then simply be a matter of buying the petrol in South Africa and sending it to Rhodesia.

The 3000 gallons purchased would cost about £5OO retail in New Zealand, but considerably less would be needed to purchase the petrol in bulk in South Africa. A Reserve Bank official said no application for such funds had been made to the Reserve Bank. Some time ago trading banks had been instructed not to make any remittance to Rhodesia without approval.

But share transactions overseas could have produced the required money, he said. The petrol arrived in Salisbury from South Africa last Saturday. The tanker was decorated with kiwis and kangaroos, and bore the slogan: "The Anzacs are here.” The president of the Returned Services’ Association (Mr H. Mitchell) has already

protested that this was an improper use of “Anzac.” The New Zealand Rhodesian Society, as such, had nothing to do with the consignment of petrol to Rhodesia, the chairman of the society (Mr S. S. Green, of Dargaville) said today.

“We did not send any money to South Africa as a society, but I know many individuals throughout New Zealand have sent postal notes to South Africa to buy petrol for Rhodesia,” he said. “As a society, we would have no way of remitting money overseas, so people are finding ways to do it on their own.”