AUSTRALIAN SUPPLY POSITIONCHIPLEY WARNS: PETROL BOWSERS MAY BE EMPTY BY CHRISTMAS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1949, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SUPPLY POSITION—CHIPLEY WARNS: PETROL BOWSERS MAY BE EMPTY BY CHRISTMAS

CANBERRA, This Day (Rec. 1 p.m.). —At a private meeting after their conference with the Prime Minister, Mr J. B. Chifley, the State Premiers decided to inform the Prime Minister that they would refer his proposal to reintroduce petrol rationing to their State Cabinets. ’ The most popular proposal among the State Premiers was the suggestion that the Commonwealth should resume the power to ration petrol. For the first time since the dollar crisis started, the State Premiers were unanimous in admitting that some system of control of distribution of petrol must be found, if Mr Chifley persisted in his refusal to allow any increase in importation. Convinced Of Truth No official statement was made, but the Premiers admitted privately that the latest figures submitted by Mr Chifley had convinced them of the truth of his statement that the bowsers would be empty by Christmas unless early action was taken. Even if the State Governments agree, it will take some weeks to reintroduce rationing by the States. . Mr Chifley said that if increased

consumption continued it could not be made up by increased importations. Australia might have to live within her own dollar earnings and not expect any dollars from the British Treasury. The director of rationing told the conference that sales even before the coal strike showed a phenomenal increase and to offset the over-selling which had already occurred, it would be necessary to curtail sales for the rest of the year to a level below that when rationing was in force. Mr Chifley said that before rationing was abolished, it was claimed that the increase in consumption would not exceed 10 per cent. It had been 45 per cent, in June. Mr Chifley said the Government would request the oil companies to hold reserves for harvesting. Chifley’s Statement Discounted Senator Ashley, Minister of Fuel, said that figures prepared by his department revealed that the coal strike had increased petrol consumption by 3,000,000 gallons and by the end of this month the figure would be 5,500,000 gallons.) The spokesman of the major oil companies says that Mr Chifley’s claim of a 45 per cent, increase m sales does not bear analysis. Large quantities have been sold, but much of this had gone into reserve and had not been consumed-