PETROL AND TYRE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 282, 25 August 1944, Page 6

PETROL AND TYRE SITUATION

Statement By Minister

“Though the present war situation looks so hopeful.” said the -Minister of Transport. Mr. O’Brien, in a statement last night. “I am sure everyone realizes that in order to enable the Allies to continue to attack in Europe with aeroplanes. tanks and armoured _ vehicles petrol and rubber are an essential and it is fairly obvious that increased supplies cannot be directed to us till peace is declared. The unnecessary use of transport in New Zealand may jeopardize our essential war services.” The .Minister said that lie had instructed the Commissioner of Transport to discuss the matter with the transport control committees throughout the Dominion with a view to seeing whether further savings could be effected in heavy truck transport. He wished to make it. clear, however. that transport services must be made available for all essential industry and production so that the country could play its part in the war. In order to make the maximum use of the transport services it was essential that vehicles should operate to as near full capacity as possible, and to achieve this it would probably be necessary for users of goods services to wait till full loadings could be arranged. Transport to meet urgent cases would be met. Those demanding the lifting of restrictions because of the war situation should take the above facts into consideration.