PETROL AND RUBBER

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1945, Page 2

PETROL AND RUBBER

N.Z. SHORTAGES CONTINUE. NO EASING OF RESTRICTIOS. P.A. WELLINGTON, March 16. The Minister of Transport, Hon. J. O’Brien, stated to-day that the petrol and the rubber situation is such that no relaxation of the existing restrictions is possible in the meantime. “In a number of cases,” said the Minister, “representations have been made for the lifting of the restrictions on road transport, particularly in connection with the transport of stock, and it appears to be the general opinion that, as the war is going so well for us at the moment, petrol should be more plentiful. The reverse is the case. When the war is going well, and the Allied armies are advancing, huge quantities of petrol are required in the war areas, with the result that the amount available for civilian consumption is more restricted.

“The rubber position, also, is extremely difficult, and representation has been made to the Government, that further restrictions on its use should be imposed in order to con- ( serve the limited number of tyres available. I am arranging with the Commissioner of Transport for the traffic staff to check up more frequently on the loads and the speed of all motor vehicles, with the view of keeping both the loads and the speeds down to the legal limits. “To deal with the transport of goods by road, Control Committees have been set up throughout the country. These committees, which are comprised of local transport operators, and representatives of the primary production industry, do their best to rationalize road transport, and, as far as possible, to divert traffic to rail and ship'. Their activities often mean inconvenience and delay to users, but their job is a most important one in conserving petrol and. rubber. I would like to pay a tribute to their work. I would ask the public to support them in their unpleasant, but necessary, task. “I would say,” concluded the Minister, “that the whole matter is constantly, pnder review, and only those restrictions are imposed which are fully justified by the supply position.”