PETROL RESERVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1940, Page 2

PETROL RESERVE

MR SULLIVAN’S INTIMATION. [PER press association.] WELLINGTON, September 18. “On the attainment of a petrol reserve of a certain quantity in New Zealand, the petrol rationing policy will be completely reviewed,” said the Minister for Supply (Mr D. G. Sullivan) at the motor trade conference dinner to-night. The Minister told the gatnering the quantity of petrol in the country and the' reserve that was the Government’s aim; but asked that the figures be'"not published. He assured his hearers that the sacrifices rationing, had caused the trade to make were necessary, and to the advantage of New Zealand. AUCKLAND SUPPORT. AUCKLAND, September 19. The Council of the Chamber of Commerce, decided to support the Canterbury Chamber, which proposed to send a deputation to the Prime Minister; asking for a relaxation of petrol restrictions, at least to the extent of granting an amount of petrol available prior to July 1 last. The president (Mr. Spencer) said they should ask why they got less than in England, and a great deal less than in Australia. DUNEDIN PETITION. DUNEDIN, September 19. A petition signed by 263 workers in the Dunedin motor industry has been forwarded to the Premier urging that at least seven million gallons of petrol be released monthly, to give them reasonable security in employment. DUTCH EAST INDIES’ SUPPLY.

WELLINGTON, September 18. “The more the people of New Zealand deny themselves the use of petrol the greater their contribution to the common war effort,” said Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissionei’ for the United kingdom in New Zealand, at a New Zealand motor trade federation dinner to-night, in explaining that the purchase of petrol in the Netherlands East Indies often involves an inroad on the dollar exchange. “I recognise, we all recognise, how important petrol is to trade and industry, and how hampering any restriction on its use must necessarily be,” said Sir Harry. “But on the other hand there is no need for me to emphasise the importance of conserving' foreign exchange, especially dollars, when every dollar available is required to buy aeroplanes, guns, and munitions of all kinds for the defence of those hard-beset people of Great Britain; and, of course, the defence of Great Britain means the defence of New' Zealand. But I often hear the question asked: can we not avoid the use of foreign exchange, and obyiate the need for such strict economy’ by buying from the Dutch East Indies? I think there is some misconception about this. Because the Dutch are our gallant allies in the war, people have thought that Dutch currency is, for practical purposes, the same as sterling. This is not so. We have, it is true, an agreement with the Dutch which fixes the’ rate of exchange; but the East Indies cannot be regarded for pTirjfoses of exchange as part of the sterling area, and consequently any purchase in the Netherlands East Indies gives rise to claims on our foreign exchange resources. In particular, the purchase of petrol in the Netherlands East Indies may involve and, indeed, often does involve, an inroad on the dollar exchange. So it all really comes to the same thing in the end. You cannot buy petrol without the danger of an inroad on the dollar exchange.

“The co-operation which is being given by New Zealand in the limitation of petrol imports is most warmly welcomed in the United Kingdom, An expression of the United Kingdom Government’s Appreciation has been conveyed to the Dominion Government.” CONFLICTING APPEALS. WELLINGTON, September 19. Claiming that the supplies of petrol issued in New Zealand were. so low that the economic life of the country was being affected, the Motor Trade Federation’s annual meeting, this morning, supported the President (Mr C. R. Edmond), in his statement that another 1,000,000 gallons per month were required. Mr Edmond produced a letter from a large British motor manufacturer, in which an appeal was made for a market in New Zealand. “We would like to respond to that appeal,” said Mr Edmond, “but we cannot unless there is some easement in the petrol situation. On the one hand, we have the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom ' telling us that we must conserve petrol, and on the other hand, one of the leading motor manufacturers in England is pleading with us to buy their goods. r There must be some place in the middle where we can meet and do both things.” Mr W. E. Hill said that the industry had never opposed petrol rationing as a matter of principle, but contended that there was a point beyond which rationing could not go without serious effect on the economic life of the Dominion.