PETROL FOR SPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 147, 18 December 1943, Page 8

PETROL FOR SPORTS

PERMITS TO BE GRANTED

Petrol would be made available to members of country bowling clubs wishing to visit neighbouring centres, according to advice received by the Waikato and Thames Valley Bowling Centre from the Oil Fuel Controller (Mr. G. L. Laurenson). Authority had been given for the issue of permits for reasonable quantities. Each case had to be dealt with on its merits and one requirement was that there should be no suitable bus service available. "I don't want it assumed that there is going .to be a lashing out of petrol, because that is not the case," said Mr. Laurenson, in commenting on the position. The grants were not confined to the Waikato or to bowling cluljs, he said, but would be available in any part of New Zealand and to any sports bodies, provided the conditions were complied with. Those conditions, however, were stringent. The purpose of the issue was merely to enable, sports to keep going, where their continued existence was threatened. Local controllers were instructed to deal conservatively with the matter, and, in fact, very little petrol was actually being issued. Each case would be dealt with on its merits. Authority for reasonable amounts might be given only if there were no alternative transport of any sort available. The petrol would have to be used in some form of group travel, not by individuals alone, and only short journeys would be permitted. Mr. Laurenson added that similar arrangements had been made for winter sports bodies earlier in the year.