PETROL PRICES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 7 August 1930, Page 5

PETROL PRICES

LABOUR SUGGESTS MONOPOLY CONSUMERS ’ PROTECTION. INVITATION TO BRITISH COMPANY. (By Telegraph—Special to “The Star.") WELLINGTON, Aug. 7. The suggestion that the Government, should consider the possibility of granting a monopoly of the petrol trade in New Zealand to a British oil company to enable supplies to be made available at a reasonable price : was advanced by Mr J. W. Munro (Dunedin North) in the House last night. The member said he believed that it would he quite possible for the Government to investigate the possibility of negotiating with a British oil company, who, he 1 had been credibly informed, would be agreeable to give the Government an undertaking to supply all the oil that could possibly be used in New Zealand provided that they were given a monopoly of the trade and were assured of 'a reasonable rate of profit. A member: A monopoly?

Mr Munro: What would that matter if the oil were up to standard quality. If the Government ma.de a bargain at a certain rate, I think it could be carried out all right. . Mr Munro said that there was no doubt that the proposal would be regarded by the Reform Party as a revolutionary action, but he could see no reason why it should not be adopted. Motorists and other users of petrol in New Zealand had been long enough under the thumb of oil trusts and the longer this was allowed to continue-the worse the position would become. So far only twopence per gallon had been passed on from the extra tax, but the question was as to when the remaining penny would be applied.