Saving petrol

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33460, 15 February 1974, Page 8

Saving petrol

The reply by the Minister of Energy Resources (Mr Freer) to the leading article on “ Saving petrol ” which we printed on Wednesday evades the main issues raised in that article. “ The Press ” called for Government candour about the country’s stocks of fuel. Mr Freer replied that New Zealand has been restricted by 15 per cent of last year’s supply. This 15 per cent is the figure by which the Arab States threatened, months ago, to reduce supplies to New Zealand—but it is 8 per cent more than the shortage which a United States Government advisory group estimated that the western world faced in the first three months of 1974. “ The Press ” was asking to know the actual stocks in New Zealand of the various fuels, relative to the stocks held at the same time last year. Given this information, New Zealand motorists would have a reasonable idea what savings had to be made immediately, and the electorate could debate intelligently the most effective and fairest ways of making them. “ The “ Press ” was not asking for details of petrol stocks in particular areas. Mr Freer failed to address himself to the main point of the editorial —the contention that earless days would not save petrol. If a measure will not achieve its main purpose, it is not worth debating whether it is fair or not. Rationing would ensure that total consumption remained within the limits of supply. It is true, as Mr Freer says, that some European countries have abandoned rationing and others have not introduced rationing. This was because the Arab embargo did not cut supplies as severely as was predicted—not because rationing did not work. Did it escape Mr Freer’s attention that these same countries have abandoned earless days? The United States is prepared (to the extent of having ration cards already printed) to begin rationing if it proves necessary. The Vice-President (Mr Ford) has warned motorists that it might. Mr Freer agrees with “ The Press ” that it would be unfair to rely entirely on price increases to reduce the demand for petrol. The only effective alternative to prohibitive expensive petrol is rationing. His department should be able to devise a svstem that is relatively simple to administer and yet takes into account particular cases of hardship.