SOME MODIFICATION?

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 75, 25 September 1941, Page 10

SOME MODIFICATION?

UNIFORM BASIS

FOR THREE DOMINIONS

The possibility of the oil tanker service being so organised that New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa will be placed on a uniform basis of one-third rationing of petrol was mentioned by Mr. C. R. ' Edmond, retiring president of the New Zealand Motor Trade Federation, at the annual conference today. Mr. Edmond said that according to advice he had received from Australia, the petrol position in that country would be relaxed at the end of the year, conditional on the. situation in the Far East not deteriorating, and it was anticipated that the three Dominions would be placed on the basis referred to above. "New Zealand consumed about 9,000,000 gallons a month prior to the war," said Mr. Edmond. "A rationing of one-third would leave 6,000,000 gallons available each month, and that is what we asked for last year—that the Government should stabilise the ration at 6,000,000 gallons-a month. With responsible handling of stocks that could have been done. "If it had been done the economy of the Dominion would have benefited., and it would have helped in the war effort. The idea that the private car is unnecessary is totally wrong. Some people say that the private motorist should be put off the road. The private motor-car is providing a rapid means of transport for many people who are engaged in essential war work. What we need is a balanced viewpoint, not a biased one—one that comes from that perverted idea that a motor-car is a luxury. It is false thinking that has caused a lot of our troubles." THE LATEST CUT. j In the annual report reference was made to the cut of 25 per cent, in the private ration and 10 per. cent, in the commercial ration imposed on August 1 last. "The effect of this cut has proved disastrous to the retail section of the motor trade," says the report, "and it apppears to be the straw which has broken the camel's back, as the retail trade has suffered the worst decline in business since the first month after the outbreak of war. "It is questionable whether the existing conditions call for the reduction of our economic life to the extent that a continuance of this latest cut will entail, and we are hopeful that the Government will review the position at the earliest possible date."