AUSTRALIAN RATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1945, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN RATIONS

RECORD OF VARIATIONS

The Government of Great Britain has restored the basic allowance of petrol to private motorists in that country, the reported schedule being as follows: —Cai's up to 9 h.p., 4 gallons a. month; 10 to 13 h.p., 5 gallons; 14 to 19 h.p., 6 gallons; more than 20 h.p., 7 gallons. These allowances enable most motorists to travel approximately 2000 miles a year, says a bulletin issued by Dunlop Rubber, Ltd. The b.ulletin reviews the history of petrol rationing in Australia, where it commenced in July, 1940. The ration for private motorists was based on a mileage of approximately 2000 miles a year, and the initial schedule for private cars was as follows: —8 h.p., 4 gallons a month; 10 h.p., 5 gallons; 12 h.p., 6 gallons; 14 h.p., 7 gallons; 20 h.p., 8 gallons; 30 h.p., 10 gallons; and over 30 h.p., 11 gallons. By October, 1941, the petrol situation had so improved that the basic ration was practically doubled, the allowances being based on about 4000 miles per annum. In January, 1941. , the allowance was reduced by about ! 1000 miles a year to 3000 miles, the schedule then being:—Up to 8 h.p., 7 gallons a month; 8 to 10 h.p., 8 gallons; 10 to 12 h.p., 10 gallons; 12 to 14 h.p., 11 gallons; 14 to 20 h.p., 12 gallons; 20 to 30 h.p., 14 gallons; and over 30 h.p.. 17 gallons. In May, 1941, there was a further cut, the schedule being:—Up to"1 8 h.p., 5 gallons; 8 to 10 h.p., 5 gallons; 10 to 12 h.p., 6 gallons: 12 to 14 h.p., 7 gallons; 14 to 20 h.p., 8 gallons; 20 to 30 h.p., 9 gallons; and over 30 h.p., 11 gallons. Three months later, in July, there was a drastic reduction, bringing the monthly allowance down to a basis of approximately 1000 miles a year. The schedule was as follows: —Up to 8 h.p., 2 gallons; 8 to 10 h.p., 2 gallons; 10 to 12 h.p., 3 gallons; 12 to 14 h.p., 3 gallons; 14 to 20 h.p., 4 .gallons; 20 to 30 h.p., 5 gallons; and Over 30 h.p., 6 gallons. Then, at the beginning of 1942, there was a further cut of 20 per cent., the schedule differing slightly from its forerunners, inasmuch as in alternate months the allowances in most cases were varied to maintain unbroken gallon issues. The allowances then were: —Up to 8 h.p., 3 gallons for two months; 8 to 10 h.p., 4 gallons; 10 to 12 h.p., 5 gallons; 12 to 14 h.p., 5 gallons; 14 to 20 h.p., 6 gallons; 20 to 30 h.p., 8 gallons; over 30 h.p., 9 gallons. That 1942 schedule is still in force.

The question of petrol stocks in the Commonwealth and the possibility of any relaxation in the petrol ration to private motorists in the not distant future, says the bulletin, will be determined by' the availability of oil tankers. The liquid fuel needs of the Allied navies and forces in the war against Japan will make such a tremendous demand on tankers during the next few months that an increase in petrol for private motorists must depend upon developments in the Pacific theatre of war.