SUPPLY ASSURED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22528, 7 January 1948, Page 4

SUPPLY ASSURED

FUEL FOR FARMERS GOVERNMENT’S POLICY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. G. Because of complaints about petrol supplies for essential purposes, Federated Farmers invited the Government to indicate its policy regarding fuel for agricultural production under the pre sent quota system. The Minister of Supply replied that where petrol resellers required addi tional petrol for essential farm work the cases would be reported to the Transport Department’s district traffic officer, who would deal with the situa tion. “The general policy is to make suffi cient petrol available to farmers carrying on their production,” said the oil fuel controller, Mr. G. N. Laurenson “So far as farming is concerned, there is a great difference between the present and last season." He added that many thousands _of gallons had been added to the existing quotas to enable resellers and private pump holders to meet the earlier de mands of the farming industry. Wherever petrol was necessary for a farmer to carry on production, and no other supply was available in the district. the Federated Farmers could rest assured the additional supplies would be made available immediately the case was brought to the notice of the oil fuel controller or the district offices. As an alternative to the present sys tern, rationing would need a further 500 State employees to operate it.