Mr Freer replies to critics on diesel

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33424, 4 January 1974, Page 2

Mr Freer replies to critics on diesel

f.Vcw Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 3. Substantial fuel savings were being made by some industries by substituting other fuels and this would help to balance the additional requirements of agricultural and some industrial users, said the Minister of Energy Resources (Mr Freer) this evening.

The Minister has been criticised strongly over the shortage of diesel for farming use. Mr Freer referred to reports of difficulties arising from supply limitations ro customers that the oil companies had • been asked to apply since last month The consumption of diesel and fuel oils must be held in the meantime to about the level of the last 12 months, said Mr Freer. CO-OPERATION ‘This means an over-all reduction in planned consumption by oil users; with everyone’s co-opera-tion this need not seriously interfere with the present level of economic activity.” Mr Freer urged all oil users who thought they i might face difficulties as a consequence of limited allocation. first to discuss the position with their suppliers. Where there was still a serious problem, the case could be reviewed iointlv bv senior officers of the Ministry of Energy Resources and the Department of Trade and Industry. I Applications for the review of allocations should ne directed to the local officer of the Department of Trade and Industry or to its head office in Wellington. Mr Freer said. “It would be wrong to assume that any but the more serious anomalies can be dealt with in this way. i “I would welcome the assistance of trade associa tions in isolating those areas

tn which their members are likely to face very real prob- i lems. so that these can be; looked at as soon as possible.” said Mr Freer. The Opposition spokesman. on industries and commerce! (Mr B. E. Taiboys) said today that production of hay.; grass seeds and other crops was well ahead of last year, and fanners and contractors would need more diesel this year than last if the crops were to be harvested. At a time when the use of, petroleum products was unrestricted for fun like water; sports and for general holiday enjoyment. Mr Taiboys said, it was ludicrous to be issuing threats to farmers. “WIDE DISRUPTION" The Opposition spokesman on energy resources, Mr L. W. Gandar, asserted that widespread evidence was accumulating of interruptions to harvesting and crop planting as a result of the Minister's directive to oil companies. The Government was showing “crass stupidity” in asking the oil companies to solve its problems, said Mr Gandar. Mr Freer said this afternoon that he would like Mr Gandar to make available to him as quickly as possible anv evidence he had of widespread interruptions to harvesting. Wherever there was a genuine need for extra supolies of diesel for agricultural or contracting purposes, the oil companies had met all 'requirements, as far as he knew. Mr Freer said he knew of

,no evidence of grass and seed crops rotting on the ; ground. The president of South Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr K. M. Davey) (said that Mr Freer showed a complete misunderstanding of the farming industry—one of farmers’ main costs was fuel and they did not waste it. "It is most disturbing when South Canterbury is coming into one of the biggest cropping harvests of small seeds (and grain in the district’s 'history that farmers and contractors should be threatened with fuel rationing. “Does Mr Freer suggest that farmers can reduce by 10 per cent the amount of fuel needed to harvest a paddock of wheat or spray a crop or pasture? If he has the answers, I wish he would release them to farmers j immediately.” said Mr Davey.