RIGHT OF TRANSFER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 201, 23 May 1944, Page 4

RIGHT OF TRANSFER

Motorists’ Petrol Coupons EFFECT OF REGULATION

A staement that the right'to transfer petrol coupons was in no way restricted by the recent regulation giving the Oil Fuel Controller power to obtain information relating to the acquisition or possession of coupons, was made yesterday by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr. Sullivan. There had been adverse comment in some quarters concerning the regulation, added the Minister, but it could not be considered to be an unfair imposition on the motoring public. “Coupons remain transferable, but the object of the regulation is to assist the oil fuel authorities in securing information in regard to illegal use of petrol,” said Mr. Sullivan. “It is ewimon knowledge that petrol is secured in some cases by misuse of licences, and till this regulation was passed the most commonly used defence against charges was that of having secured the petrol by gift coupons. “The position is, then, that if a person has secured his petrol by means of coupons there need be no fear of disclosing, if necessary, the source of the coupons. It is only where the transferredcoupon story is an attempt to conceal the truth that, action may be taken by the Oil Fuel Controller, and I imagine those who have complied with the Oil Fuel Regulations will not cavil at its object in this regard. “If the present provisions prove inadequate to prevent abuse it may be necessary to prohibit the transfer of coupons, though War Cabinet desires to avoid that if possible.”