PETROL AND PATRIOTISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1940, Page 9

PETROL AND PATRIOTISM

COUNTRY’S SAFETY FIRST [per press association.] WELLINGTON, December 3. The executive of the Wellington Automobile Association agreed with their chairman, Mr. E. A. Batt, when he said he was not prepared at the present juncture to advocate further relaxation in the restrictions on petrol consumption. , Remarking that petrol restrictions, specially during the holidays, were a burning question among the Association’s members and motorists generally, the chairman said his own view was that very rapid changes were taking place in world affairs, specially in the Pacific. There had been striking indications, particularly last week, that the enemy was at New Zealand’s door, with raiders. It was his opinion it was not for them to say any more about petrol, while the danger existed in the Pacific. It would be unfair to the defence of the country and against their own interests. “While we have good reason to take up the attitude we have,, a bigger question is now at stake. That is our very safety,” he commented. “I think a position has been arrived at that was not in existence before. There should be. conservation of petrol. I am not prepared personally to advocate that petrol, that may be very difficult to bring across the Pacific in the near future, should be used unnecessarily at present. We are vitally concerned with petrol, but we are more vitally concerned with the safety of the country as a whole.”