SHORTAGE OF BENZINE

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 165, 15 July 1920, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF BENZINE

MOTORISTS' REQUIREMENTS

NEED FOR A SUBSTITUTE.

Reference to the shortage of benzine is contained in the annual report of the Auckland Automobile Association, to bo presented at the annual meeting this week. It is stated that conftierin-j; reports «nd opinions have been'roeeivtsd from tlie United Staites rugarding future .supplies. Wiiiln Ideal agt-nts neie nptimistic, tlie Mil oom!>ini>s in tlie St-at-es i.ad publif.-ly adv^rtistjd nF^ng libers to the «.'!(atPst fC<.H';jny. At present < uii'iitions were much improved* Jmt ;< seemed certain that tho world's dom^ud »•. «s inciviomy; so rapidly »!'<it. a substitute would have rfco be" found v/iihin. tho nest few years. The possibility ■of 1< onl production of motor spirit had Wen i?!«:»p|y- mvesbig'ited by the committee and the ventures winch s>?<'ineJ nutst. likely to meet witli early results were those operated by companies in the peat swamps of North Auckland. . Crude oil had already been produced, find reports received indicated that a refined motor spirit would be available in comm^n'cial quantities as soon as tho necessary machinery for its production had been installed.

With regard to the use of benzine, tho committee had decided that it would be a good thing to hold a petrol consumption contest, with a view cf properly 'testing the mileage cf different cars, the efficiency of different brands of petrol, and of various economisers on the market-. Tlie contest would take place' next Labor Day. *