CABS RETURN TO ITALY

Evening Star, Issue 22229, 6 January 1936, Page 1

CABS RETURN TO ITALY

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS The latest rise in the price of petrol, which now costs 5s 2d a gallon, is driving private cars off the roads of Italy. Only well-to-do people can now afford to run even a “baby” car. Many cars are being laid up in the hope that motoring will be cheaper next year. But thousands of owners have decided to sell, and the market is flooded with second-hand cars, states the ‘Daily Telegraph.’ . Thanks to the price of petrol, Rome s acute traffic problem is beginning to solve itself. Official and. diplomatic cars, army and air force lorries, taxis —which have just raised their fares again—and Diesel-engined buses now constitute the bulk of the city traffic. The old horse carriages, which had been going out of favour, are no longer scorned, and the “cabbies” are looking forward to renewed prosperity. Foreign tourists motoring in Italy are allowed to buy a certain amount of petrol at a cheaper rate. This involves, however, a complicated system of vouchers, obtainable at the frontier, and valid only if the traveller stays at certain high-class hotels during his tour. Members of the Diplomatic Corps can also obtain petrol at reduced prices. Taxation is responsible for all but a fraction of the high price paid by the Italian consumer.

The few Italians who can still afford to motor for pleasure are alarmed by rumours that the Government’s next economy measure will be to place a general ban on private cars at weekends. But it is considered unlikely that Signor Mussolini will give this final death-blow to the goose that lays the golden eggs. Owners of foreign cars and motor cycles manufactured in “ Sanctionist ” countries arc also perturbed at the prospect of being unable to obtain spare parts.