Australia Uncertain Of Petrol Supplies

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 August 1949, Page 5

Australia Uncertain Of Petrol Supplies

(From C. R. Mentiplay, Special Press Association Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, This Day (Rec. 9 a.m.) The Premier’s conference this week has answered very few of the many questions which Australians are asking each other concerning the petrol supply. Highlight of the conference was Mr Chifley’s statement that the lifting of petrol rationing last June resulted in petrol sales leaping up 45 per cent. Taken pt face value these figures were sigrtlficant enough to suggest that the State Cabinets should be . consulted and to indicate that some at least of the States would favour a return to some form of rationing. It was immediately challenged, however, by numerous authorities who pointed out that any existing.figures on sales did not provide a fair picture of the position because of the number of abnormalities existing at the time. The rationing of petrol by the

Federal Government was not revoked in the normal way, but was declared illegal as a result of a Court action. This resulted, say spokesmen for garage proprietors and motorists, in panic buying by business firms and private motorists who were given no cause to believe that the lifting of the restrictions was permanent. . a A T Even today nobody in Australia knows whether petrol will rernHin. unrationed or whether some form z of restriction will be reimposed by the State or Federal Governments or by petrol companies. Thus purchases are still abnormal and many motorists are still filling every available container with precious motor spirit. Results Of Coal Strike Petrol companies say that (he June figure was swollen considerably by 10,000 retailers who, after existing for eight'years, on day-to-day rations of petrol, at last had their chance to fill their underground tanks. Since June the disastrous coal strike has caused every form of petrol engine to be pressed into service.

The entire transport requirements of Sydney and other cities were met by buses during week-ends, and day and night throughout the duration of the strike huge convoys of ur S£nCy needed goods rolled down the State highways. Apparently Austrana s reserve of petrol was sufficient to cope with this enormous drain. . Garage proprietors claim that it all the abnormalties were criminated and people were given a definite assurance that petrol rationing would not be reimposed consumption would not rise more than 11 per cent, over the rationed figures. Instead Mr Chifley talks of rationing by the States for periods of not less than three years. , The Commonwealth Government still controls the importation oi petrol and is empowered to order companies to retain stocks for defence purposes. Mr Chifley will not increase the amount of the total importations because of the alleged strain on dollar resources, and he retains the last say on how much the citizen can use. Meanwhile many people are still asking why Austrana is rationed, while France is uncontrolled. Above Rationed Quota The Minister of Fuel and Shipping (Senator W. P. Ashley) said that sales of petrol to consumers in June and July were only 12| per cent, above/the rationed quota. He added that statements in newspapers were based on incomplete reports of the Premier’s Conference. Senator Ashley added that oil companies had a rationed sales ' quota for June oi 34,444,000 gallons and that their preliminary official returns to the department' of Shipping and ruel showed sales amounting to 4a per cent, above this quota. Subsequently audited sales figures from the oil companies showed June sales as 43 per cent, above the quota. “We believe, however, that the original assessment by the Commonwealth that an unrestricted demand would be from 15 to 20 per cent above rationed supplies is realistic,’ he said. i