New Tune of State Premiers on Petrol Shortage in Australia

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1949, Page 8

New Tune of State Premiers on Petrol Shortage in Australia

CANBERRA, The Australian State Premiers have now admitted privately that the latest figures submitted by Mr J. B. Chifley, convinced them of the truth of his statement that the bowsers < would be empty of petrol in Australia by Christmas unless early action is taken. At a private meeting after their conference with the Prime Minister, Mr Chifley, the State Premiers, decided to inform the Prime Minister they would refer his proposal to reintroduce petrol rationing to their State Cabinets.

The most popular proposal among the State Premiers was a suggestion that the Commonwealth should resume the power to ration petrpl. For the first time since the dollar crisis started ,the State Premiers are unanimous in admitting that some system of control of distrubtion of petrol must be found, if Mr Chifley persisted in his refusal to allow any increase in importation. Even if the State Governments agree, it will take some weeks to reintroduce rationing by the States. The spokesman of the major oil companies said that Mr Chifley’s claim of a 45 ner cent, increase in sales does not bear analysis. Large quantities have been sold, but much of this had gone into reserve and not been consumed.

Senator Ashley, Minister of Fuel, said that figures prepared by his department revealed that the coal strike had increased petrol consumption by 3,000,000 gallons and by the end of this month the figure would be 5,500.000 gallons. Mr Chifley said that if increased consumption continued it could not be made up by increased importations Australia might have to live within her own dollar earnings and not exnect any dollars from the British Treasury.

The director of rationing told the conference that sales even before- the coal strikes showed a phenomenal increase and to offset the over-selling which had already occurred ,it would be necessary to curtail sales for the rest of the year to a level below that when rationing was in force. Mr Chiflev said that before rationing was abolished, it was claimed that the increase in consumption would not exceed 10 per cent. It had been 45 ner cent, in June.

Mr Chifley said the Government would request the oil fcomnanies to hold reserves for harvesting.