Mine workers say oil price unfair

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32700, 1 September 1971, Page 16

Mine workers say oil price unfair

(From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, August 31. Mine workers allege that petrol sales subsidise fuel oil sales, making the oil price unfair in competition with coal. They also allege that automobile associations are not very enthusiastic over the matter.

"When the last petrol price rise was imposed, our union appealed to its. members. They and others associated with the coal industry were asked to write to automobile associations in protest,” said the secretary of the United Mineworkers of New Zealand (Mr J. White) in Greymouth today. “We hoped that this concerted effort would help bring the Government’s attention to the unfair balance in prices between petrol and fuel oil,” said Mr White. "It appears that automobile associations are not very enthusiastic. One reply said Tt appears, that motorists

their automobile association branches or see their member of Parliament, supporting our case. The United Mineworkers organisation is now appealing to a wider public for a response in letters to the associations,” Mr White said.

After giving a number of reasons for the miners’ concern, a letter sent to the automobile associations concluded, "One does not have to be concerned with the future of the coal industry to appreciate that a fair apportionment of. costs and taxes between petrol and fuel oil could bring substantial reductions in petrol prices, fair trading conditions for the coal industry, and a reduction in the overseas expenditure for importing fuel oil.”

generally are unconcerned and have come to accept the increases as inevitable.’ "Motorists should write to