PETROL SUPPLY AND PRICE

Evening Star, Issue 25593, 20 September 1945, Page 8

PETROL SUPPLY AND PRICE

■o ALLEGED 250 PER CENT. ABOVE LANCED COST (\P.A.) Sept, 19. " Tt is the Government's desire tn remove the restrictions as soon as possible and to that end we are negotiat-ing-with ■ the supply authorities overseas at the moment," stated the Minister of Simply, Hun. 1). G. Sullivan, in a letter'read at the annual eonioreneeoof the North Island Motor Union to-day, " and as soon as 1 am in a uotiition to do so I will make a public •itntemcnt and also let yon know the results of our negotiations." Mr Sullivan's letter, which was dated September 13, was in reply to a request by trie union that all restrictions on petrol be removed by October 1, the union pointing out that war conditions had passed Tt was decided that urgent representations be made to the Government to have the restrictions removed, ami, failing success to ipublish the case in support of the request. The price of petrol was the subject of long discussion, at the conclusion of which the following motion was carried: —" That a request be made to the Government that the importation of petrol revert to the oil companies forthwith, and that at the same time steps be taken to reduce the retail cost to the public to the price prevailing at June 30, 1939. In making this request we are aware of the downward movement in freights and war risk insurance, as a result of which the price to the public in Australia has already been reduced." - During the discussion it was stated that the landed cost was 8d a gallon and that the price in Palmerston North was 250 per cent. , above the landed cost. It was stated that the price had been reduced by I£d a gallon in Australia. The acting secretary, Mr W. O'Callaghan, said that only the Government could say what the landed cost of petrol was, but the reduction m freights and insurance could be proved. A reduction of 3d or 4d in freight alone had occurred