GRAVE OUTLOOK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20804, 6 June 1942, Page 3

GRAVE OUTLOOK

PETROL & TYRE STOCKS ration When possible PRIVATE MOTORISTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. “There is a veritable famine Sri tyres:—petrol stocks afe-jusi sufficient to carry on the country at a .very careful rationed basis,' but the future prospective stock, position, of -both petrol and .tyres is very grave.”....../. This statement wa‘s" -made by the Prime Minister, the. Rt. Hon. P. .Eraser, commenting on 'a telegram sent to him by the North and South Island. MotorUnions. - - • Mr. Fraser added .that nevertheless; whenever supplies of petrol and .tyres can, with due regard to our national safety, be released to private motorists, a ration will be : made available'. It is, however, very difficult to any forward estimate of the petrol and tyre position. The telegram referred to the remarks made in Christchurch by the Minister of Transport, the flon. R. Semple and. Mr. Fraser’s statement ’ was' made after consultation with Mr. Sample and the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. , ’. ’ MOTORISTS* DILEMMA “I believe that the motorists of the Dominion are 100 per cent behind the Government and are willing to co-operate to the fullest extent,” said Mr. A. E. Batt, chairman of the Automobile Association, Wellington, at. a council meeting. ' ' - Referring to Semple’s recent statement in Christchurch.to tho,effect that there would not be many private cars on the road in a few months’ time, Mr. Batt said that such a , statement needed clarification. It sounded like n veiled threat • and; had more motorists’ nervous about registering their cars. In fact,. 200,000; vehicle ;o\vners were left in the air, not knowihg-what to do. Many of them Were now prone hot to register and thereby leave their cars Immobile, but if they did this the cars would not be available for E.P.S. purposes.' V A A."... " ,

It was decided. to. endeavour “,tO' obtain a clarification of the Govern-