NEW WAR POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1941, Page 7

NEW WAR POLICY

AUSTRALIAN MOVE

PETROL RATION HALVED

CANBERRA, June 18,

The first major result of Mr. Menzies's new policy on Australia's war effort was an announcement today by the Minister of Supply of drastic petrol cuts, chiefly affecting private motorists, whose present supply is being cut by half, limiting them to 1000 miles a year and becoming operative in August. Taxis and cars for private hire will be further reduced to 40 per cent, of the original rationing scale. Commercial vehicles will receive only 60 per cent, of the original ration. Omnibus and service cars will be cut by 15 per cent. Corresponding reductions will apply to farm and miscellaneous classes of vehicles and motor-boats.

Motoring interests say the new rationing plan will sound the deathknell of private motoring. Trade union leaders expressed concern at Mr. Menzies's "threatened coercive measures" against their leaders. The secretary of the New South Wales Labour Council, Mr. R. King, voiced the opinion of most Labour officials when he said the Labour movement was not prepared to submit kindly to attacks on the liberty of trade unionists. He added that if workers displaced by industrial restriction were not absorbed it would be tantamount to industrial conscription.—U.P.A.