WIDE DISSATISFACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 80, 1 October 1940, Page 9

WIDE DISSATISFACTION

100 P.C. INCREASE

ASSOCIATION'S DEMAND

"The statement of the Minister of Supply published today will cause a great deal of dissatisfaction and disappointment/ said Mr. E. A. Batt, chairman of the Automobile Association (■Wellington). "It appears to be fairly generally known," said Mr. Batt, referring to the Minister's reference to the building up of stocks, "that there is more petrol in bulk storage in New Zealand today, by four or five million gallons, than was required for a normal consumption of a hundred million gallons per annum. The consumption for -July, August, and September has gone down to the very low average of five million gallons a month —sixty million gallons per annum. It is anticipated that there will be by the end of October, I understand, a 33 1-3 per cent, increase in storage in relation to the quantity required under conditions of normal consumption. The question . therefore arises, what extraordinary reserve of petrol is the Government aiming at before it will allow increased consumption? In addition to the facts that there is no shortage of petrol at the sources of supply available to New Zealand and that there is no shortage of tanker tonnage under British and American flags to bring it here, is the fact that the Government has power to stop

the retail sale of petrol entirely and at a moment's notice.

"The most extraordinary aspect, of the stringent control imposed by the New Zealand Government is that this is the only part of the British Empire that considers such restriction necessary. Even England, the centre of hostilities, has not up to the present found it necessary to restrict petrol consumption to the extent that New Zealand has done, and Australia, after twelve months of war, is only commencing restrictions today, and is allowing private cars more than double the amount of petrol, on horse-power rating, that is allowed under the New Zealand restrictions. No other Dominion or Crown colony has had petrol restrictions enforced upon it since the outbreak of war.

"Organised motorists, 100,000 members of Automobile Associations, are presenting to members of Parliament a considered statement upon the whole question of petrol restrictions, and are requesting that the present allocations for private vehicles be increased by 100 per cent."