Oil company warned

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 1

Oil company warned

Xeiv Zealand Press Association l TIMARU, January 14. The Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) has threatened to name an oil company which he alleged “has been misleading farmers about Government restrictions on farmers’ fuel supply."

“Fears being spread in the farming community that they may not be able to obtain sufficient diesel fuel to harvest their crops this season are without foundation

— in fact, they are mis-) chievous and irresponsible.’’ Sir Basil Arthur said todav.

The Minister said that dur-i ing the last week he had re-i ceived a stream of calls from farmers in South Canterbury] whose legitimate farm fuel! requirements this season ex-| ceeded last year's consump-) tion because they now had! more cropping land or were’ otherwise dealing with n change in their farming. ) “These farmers have been; improperly advised to contact! me and to object to the action taken by the Government. “Furthermore, they have been told by their suppliers —one oil company in particular—that they cannot get more than the amount used; last year over a three-monthj period. “In each case 1 have advised farmers to go back to the oil company they are dealing with ard ensure they have all the facts. “The oil companies know that it is not. and never has been, the Government’s intention to restrict supply where it is legitimately required; 11 and I am extremely disturbed that one company, in particu-; i

lar, has persistently misled its clients,” he said.

“If this practice persists 1 will not hesitate to name the company publicly, as I have done today to the Commissioner of Energy Resources. Mr Hogg.”