PETROL SUPPLIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 132, 1 December 1939, Page 6

PETROL SUPPLIES

RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

APPEAL BY THE MINISTER

The restrictions imposed on the use of petrol were lifted as from today, the necessary authority being contained in a Gazette notice issued last night.

In an appeal to motorists to conserve supplies as much as possible, the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) last night ejhphasised that the need for economy was still important, and he asked that users should do their utmost to ireduce t petrol consumption by keeping down'their speed and by eliminating ■ all unnecessary running.

"Owing to the recently-passed American neutrality legislation," said Mr. ; Sullivan, "every gallon of petrol that we use in New Zealand means.one gallon less for the prosecution of the war overseas. The floating of war loans in the United States to pay for purchases of American arms and munitions is prohibited by the neutrality legislation.

"The 'cash-and-carry' doctrine requires that dollar funds should be available for every purchase made in the United States by Great Britain. France, and the Dominions. These funds are depleted by our purchases of petrol, and it is up to all of us to do our bit by helping to conserve supplies. The present struggle is even more a war of resources than a battle for military objectives. This war is being fought on the home front as well as on the battlefield." ■ ■'~.; Motorists are ask<jd to keep their coupons by them in case it should be necessary to reimpose'the. restrictions at any time.