Auck, fuel dwindles

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 6

Auck, fuel dwindles

.(PA Auckland • While thousands of Auckilanders are on the road to '[work this morning oil comipany storemen and drivers jwill meet to decide if they ’[should return lo work. i Although Auckland’s ’ petrol supplies have steadily '[dwindled since deliveries [jstopped last week, week-end [[motorists continued to ’guzzle fuel stocks. Last evening half the ser.[vice stations in the Auckland metropolitan area were [[believed to be out of super (grade, and those still in '[business, estimate that unless [deliveries resume within the [|next day or so nearly all 11 stations might be dry by the [middle of the week. 1 1 A combined meeting of storemen and drivers at 18.30 a.m. today* in the Auck-

ipand Trades Hall will discuss .la petrol company offer to jlend the dispute. ~( Storemen have been on ; strike since Wednesday , after an award dispute. (Tanker drivers joined them Rafter Shell Company drivers • were asked to deliver petrol ; [to stations normally serviced j I by other oil companies. >i In spite of the increasing 'fuel shortage Aucklanders -’were out in their cars in -(large numbers yesterday ?! drawn outdoors by the fine r I sunny weather. 1! “About half the stations in ;;Auckland are out: of petrol :’now.” said a spokesman for lithe Motor Trade Association, ?i“and those that are not could be fairly close to it by toll morrow.” t The drivers say they in--'tend to maintain petrol de-

; liveries to emergency services such as rhe “police, [ambulance and fire brigades. * the president of the [Northern Drivers’ Union (Mr! [K. L. Fabris) said it had al[ways been his union’s policy [to deliver to emergency services during disputes such as the present one. [ Mr Fabris said the union [also considered passenger (buses to be an emergency Iservice and would provide (fuel for them if needed. * Oil industry representatives would be in Auckland * today prepared to talk to [the drivers and the store|men only if they returned [to work first, said a spokes[man. They would be prepared to meet the unions to [discuss a composite wage' [agreement for drivers and! J storemen.