Petrol panic — rationing, pumps run dry

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 1

Petrol panic — rationing, pumps run dry

Many Christchurch service stations had run out of petrol last evening — after two days of panic buying.

The few seven-day stations that still had something in their tanks were either do ’ng early last evening or rationing petrol. One garage had set a limit of $8 worth a customer.

Chri church would have had enough petrol to last the week-end if motorists had not rushed to fill their tanks, said the chairman of the Motor Trade Association’s petrol section (Mr P. Edgerton) yesterday. As it is now, only very few stations are expected to have petrol on Monday —when oil company drivers will meet to discuss the dispute about the positioning of electrical cut-off switches in petrol tankers. “We can only hope they will return to work. It could be a very nasty situation if they don’t, said Mr Edgerton.

He said some stations which opened only on week-days would have supplies on Monday, but these would not last long.

Several stations, such as the Papanui Petroldrome, ran out of petrol yesterday morning. Others, such as Ander-

son’s Auto Centre in Papanui Road, closed hours earlier than usual with their main tanks empty.

Staff at the stations which still had petrol yesterday were run off their feet throughout the day, as long queues of motorists passed slowly through.

“People seem really worried that the strike will go on. We have had chaps bring cars all the way here from the other side of town,” said a staff member at the Blue Star Taxis allnight station, in Moorhouse Avenue.

The oil industry’s concern was maximum safety and protection for tanker drivers, and the maintenance of an efficient supply to customers, said the industry spokesman, Mr D. J. Patten, in a statement yesterday.

He said that modification of x ehicles for safety reasons was not determined on the ground of cost. The company involved, BP, as guided by the best technical advice available. Mr Patten said that BP management at all levels had been in almost con-

stant discussions and correspondence with company drivers and union representatives since early May regarding the positioning of isolating switches inside the cab, or on the outside of the vehicle. The industry remained prepared to continue discussions at any time. The technical issues were complex, he said, but informed opinion still considered that mounting such switches inside the modern tip-cab vehicles was an unacceptable hazard. Until this advice was varied, or alternative technical solutions found, the industry would not make modifications which might put drivers at risk. “The drivers have my absolute assurance that the industry has no intention of sweeping this question under the carpet,” Mr Patten said.

“I can only regret that a strike situation, with its attendant inconvenience to the public, has been allowed to develop. Withdrawal of labour will not assist the resolution of technical safety matters.” he said.