PETROL RATIONS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 49, Issue 2888, 31 January 1940, Page 5

PETROL RATIONS

“ HOARDING ” SUPPLIES

SEARCH FOR CONTAINERS ALL TINS IN DEMAND Before the announcement by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) of the re-introduction of petrol rationing to-morrow there was not much evidence of over-buying of petrol. Since Monday night, however, car owners have realised the full import of the new allowances and a mild stampede is in progress to acquire a reserve of petrol. The key to the position is the provision of containers to store a surplus above what the tank of a car will hold|. And in Paeroa to-day such containers are not obtainable. Four-gallon tins, which have been used either for petrol or kerosene, are most sought after and these also are not to be had. A reserve of four gallons seems to be the average desire of many motorists but the tins to contain that amount have all been snapped up so that other receptacles are being sought. A difficulty which arises with tins of this size is that it is seldom that they are sound enough to be used again for petrol and a leaking tin is a serious potential danger.

Smaller tins which have been used for methylated or other spirits are also being inquired for, but dealers in this class of goods have other uses for the tins when empty and are reluctant to give up possession. Large Monthly Consumption No statistics of sales of petron can be obtained from the distributing agents but the figures quoted by the Minister are sufficient evidence that an enormous amount has been either used or put into storage during the past two months. So far from a monthly consumption of about 6,000,000 gallons the figures reveal that for December the total was over 9,000,000 gallons and for the current month the figures may go over the 10,000,000' gallon mark.

A point upon which many dealers in petrol are most emphatic is that so many persons are willing to take the risks involved in storing excess supplies. There are three factors which affect the position. Petrol is not easy of storage because of the double loss involved from leakage or evaporation. The risk incurred- by endangering the provisions of a fire insurance policy is too serious to warrant the small advantages gained. And the greatest risk is in the breach of the law. A licence is required for the storage of certain amounts of petrol “above ground” and one bowser station proprietor said that he foresaw “if there is much of this going on the inspectors will have a clean up and these ‘hoarders’ will lose the ‘juice’ they are taking so much trouble to get.”