PRICES OF PETROL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 13

PRICES OF PETROL

Charges Fixed In Christchurch HIGHER WAGES, FEWER HOURS The Government has fixed the prices to be charged for petrol in Christchurch at 1/10 a gallon for standard motor-spirit and 1/11 for premium grade. This was announced in an interview last evening by the Minister ot Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G Sullivan. The oil companies are to charge 1/7 and 1/8 a gallon respectively and in return for the fixed price employers in the trade have agreed to increase wages and reduce working hours generally. “The disruption of the petrol reselling trade in Christchurch and the surrounding districts, due to indiscrimin-ate'price-cutting, has engaged the attention of the Government for some time past,” Mr. Sullivan said. “In vestigation into the position showed that to preserve as far as possible the existing conditions it was necessary to fix the wholesale and retail price in areas out as far as the penny differential area. . .. “The effect of this is that both wholesale and retail prices have been fixed as far south as the Rakaia River, out to Springfield on the west and up to the Waipara River to the north. The areas in which the different prices have been fixed are those areas which have been observed by the oil companies themselves and are generally recognised as the differential areas through out the trade. “The object of the Labour Government in these matters is not to help an industry merely for the sake of helping that industry, but is to promote the welfare and happiness of the people engaged in it. In this I am pleased to say that in return for a fixed selling price a big majority of the resellers of motor-spirits in the areas to be affected have voluntarily agreed to increase the wages and reduce the working-hours and generally to better the working conditions of employees.” Workers’ Wages Increased. Mr. Sullivan said that the main features of- the agreement with the resellers were that adult employees wages would be raised from £3/15/- to £4/10/- a week, and the hours of work reduced from 50 a week to 44. Youths wages had also been increased considerably. A Dominion award covering the industry would come before the Arbitration Court next mouth, but in the meantime most of those who re tailed motor-spirit in the district covered had voluntarily agreed to the quoted rates and hours. Bona fide farmers and large com mercial accounts could still enjoy the same privileges with concessional rates that they had before the gazetting of those regulations. “It is the desire of the Government to disturb as little as possible the existing prices to particular consumers and to maintain what are the accepted trading terms and conditions within the industry,” Mr. Sullivan said. “I feel sure that the prices now fixed have achieved that object and should tend to bring about the desired harmony throughout the whole trade In the districts affected. The fixing of petrol prices in Wellington has unquestionably proved a success and all sections of the trade appreciate working under the regulations and attendant working conditions.”