STATE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SHARP CUT IN PETROL USED

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 2

STATE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SHARP CUT IN PETROL USED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. All Government departments have been requested by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Naish, to curtail their petrol consumption by one-third as their contribution to the drive to save consumption. This was revealed today by the Minister of Supply, Mr Nordmeyer, after receiving a deputation representing many motoring and transport interests to discuss the petrol situation.

After the discussions, Mr Nordmeyer said that those present still believed that the necessary petrol savings could be achieved on a voluntary basis.

The motorists have the' matter in their own hands,” said the Minister. If they make voluntary reductions now, they will avoid the inconvenience of petrol rationing later. No one wants to revert to the coupon system.”

All present had agreed that voluntary savings should be tested for a period and the co-operation of all the interests represented had been promised.

The, Minister said a disquieting fact was the phenomenal run on bowser stations caused by panic buying during recent weeks. Whereas the normal weekly consumption was about 2,000,000 gallons, the figures for the past three weeks had beeri 2,542,000, 3,112,000, 2,545,000 respectively. This obviously would not continue, as the phenomenal draw-off represented partly the demand for the filling of containers and this form of consumption would dirhinish in the future.