WEEK-END PETROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 4

WEEK-END PETROL

NOW UNDER DISCUSSION GISBORNE SERVICE The difficulties confronting motorists visiting Gisborne and requiring petrol during the week-ends were discussed yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the Gisborne advisory committee of the Automobile Association (Auckland) and the chairman, Mr. F. Tolerton, said he ana the secretary, Mr. A. ,1 Webster, would be attending a meeting of the Gisborne Petrol Resellers’ Association to discuss the matter further. As a member of the trade, Mr. H. Holmes said that if after-hour trading was to be started it would be necessary for an increase in the price of letrol to compensate stations on the roster for the higher costs of operating during the week-ends. Mr. Tolerton: The whole thing is tied up under the Pri.ce Tribunal regulations. Mr. Holmes: The demand is not great. There is no station in Gisborne that will not open up for genuine motorists. Mr. E. W. Cook said he had nad numerous applications for petrol from motorists at the Waikanae Beach camp. They came to a strange town and did not know to whom to apply. The beach camp caretaker was doing an excellent job in looking after the interests of the campers. One method of overcoming cue difficulty, said Mr. E W. McKenzie, was to work through the police, as was done during the war years. Only the genuine cases would go to the police station during the week-ends and the policeman on duty at the watchhouse could then telephone the service station employee to open up. That would eliminate applications for petrol from local residents after hours. Mr. Holmes: Some get you out for two gallons and you don’t get any return for that service.