PETROL FAMINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 13

PETROL FAMINE.

PRICES RULING HIGH. ™uTY SHILLINGS PER CASE F ° BEFORE LONG. „ A+ one garage in the city petrol J/lrl be obtained yesterday at 20s per j d S some firms were charging,3ss 1 ii Afh i>er sace, and were mak,n S LTlcs a those figures. The firm asking ;r?olrtlfrl E prUwillbe 4 Os a One'-entleman, who has a stock of i n is waiting for a lnghcr price, selling any of his fU A S far as the city streets are concerned, there is no appreciable diminution in the motor traffic, but the posi- !° n ;' recognised as serious everywhere, and n dS°T *° wiU P r ° baWy S6 ° S ° me Ch A n nrominent motorist, chatting with a reporter yesterday, saul that +V,a Tortage of petrol had come 2 the best time of the year ft private owners, but. it was a a erUs matter tor taxi owners and firms that did then- carryfng by motors. He had enough petrol Self to carry him three or four hundred miles, and when that was done e was going to shut down and economise for a time. He thought it would be the right thing for private owners 1™ /lid not have to uso their cars to jeep o to the market for the time Sad leave the stocks as tar as S&£ &&*&s£ SL raSL t»'- "'hat* "> ™* HOW PEOPLE ABE AFFECTED.

AMONG THE TAXIS. for from four to six weeks tlnough filing obtained a fairly large supply nrivately from Australia. . Another Erm has taken off three taxicabsand, with six running, should be able to hold out for about three weeks. Those business firms which run motor delivery waggons have also very small Snplies. One large grocery business >s using benzine, and expects its supply to last for only a few days longer. Funs which sell benzine are retusmg to sell their stocks outright, and arc keeping them for their regular customers. Motor-cyclists are paying 5s per gallon for their motor spirits, and seem prepared to use petrol at that price. WILL FARES INCREASE? The shortage of petrol has resultedin a widespread rumour that the fares charged by the taxicabs for small ]obs will bo raised. It is said that very few motor-cabs will take a fare from the Square to the railway station under is 6d, and many want 2s. _ On the other hand, it is authoritatively stated that an increase of fares by licensed taxicab drivers plying for hire would be contrary to the City Council by-laws relating to the licensing of taxicabs. Any driver of a licensed taxicab who, not being engaged, refuses to carry passengers at the ruling rates renders himself liable to prosecution. Seven or eight taxicabs will go oil the street next week, but, it is stated, they are. to bo placed out of commission tor cleaning and painting, and not because of the shortage of fuel. . One driver, who is safely stocked in petrol,,suggested that the shortage has been manipulated so as to clear heavy stocks, and he advanced the view that a big shipment is handy to the coast to redeem the position before long. SHORTAGE WAS KEPT SECRET. FACTS ABOUT THE SUPPLY. The first information of the shortage came from Auckland about a week ago, and a number of enterprising individuals are said to have indulged in speculation, which has been remarkably successful. It is stated that the large supplying houses tried to keep the shortage a secret, thinking that without a rush for supplies they would be able to tide over till . fresh supplies came to hand. But the information leaked out, and the rush set m. Supplies are not expected until the end of the month, when the s.s. Hohenfels should arrive with a shipment. A Lyttelton firm on Thursday had 200 cases of petrol for sale at 30s per case. An importing firm in tho city has, however, offered to supply petrol to dealers at 25s per case subject to confirmation, delivery to be made from one consignment aboiit the end of next week, and another .within the next three weeks. Tin's firm also states that there will be no direct shipment arriving for fully six weeks. Quotations for forward delivery, excepting in this case, will not be made, and it is supposed that this is on account partly, of a permanent increase in price which will be made.

Yesterday, all day long, the manager of the firm which controls the petrol market in New Zealand was turning: away buyers who were desirous of obtaining supplies at once. He was, however, booking orders as fast as they came in, for ho is expecting a large shipment in a little over a month's time. One ship is at present loading at New York, and another will soon begin to load. He denied the statement, attributed to the Company he represents, that the shortage was due to the fact that ships were unable to leave the Black Sea. That he said, was a more rumour and it had not been advanced by his firm as the official reason of the shortage. The reason was simolv that ships could not bo got to take'the petrol, owing, possibly, to labour troubles. rPER Press Association.] GISBORNE, May 3. The supply of petrol here is limited but not to the extent centres, and local agents feel no•«»*•«*> in regard to supplies. ThejrcelOT ever, has risen frpm Us 3d to Us a case in four weeks.