Increased rationing

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 1

Increased rationing

Petrol rationing may become widespread in Christchurch this week if the strike by oil-tanker drivers continues. “The prospect scares me,” said the chairman of the Motor Trade Association’s service station division (Mr B. Halliday) last evening. “It was getting grim on Friday, but it will get a lot worse this week if the drivers stay out,” he said. By Friday afternoon, about 40 of the 150 service stations in Christchurch had exhausted their petrol stocks, and many others had limited

supplies of super-grade petrol. Most had some stocks of regular grade, but that, too, was getting low. Rationing might have to be introduced, said Mr Halliday. Some garages were already rationing supplies on Friday. He asked motorists to be patient with garage staff if rationing was introduced. The drivers were creating a serious problem for service station owners, said Mr Halliday. The recent rises in the price of petrol had meant serious liquidity problems

for many owners, and if the strike continued indefinitely, this would be aggravated. "These strikes do not help us,” said Mr Halliday. "One owner who rang me on Friday is worried about how he will manage to carry on.” The problem was particularly bad for country service stations, said Mr Halliday. “Something has to be done to get this dispute settled and to ease the problem for service station owners,” he said.