PETROL RATIONING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 281, 26 October 1940, Page 8

PETROL RATIONING

POSITION ANALYSED. ._ » WHAT INCREASE MEANS.

"The motor trade is disappointed and surprised v by the meagreness of the increase in" the petrol allowance for November and December," said Mr F. G. Jolly (chairman of,the Palmerston North Garage Proprietors' Association) to the "Standard" yesterday. "The 25 per cent, increase on the present ration for private use represents only an addition of one half of one coupon per month at this important season of the year; whereas what the trade has beeji advocating as a reason-" able minimum represents an additional one and a-half coupons per month throughout the year. It is to be noted that the present ration upon which this 25 per cant, increase has now been announced has been a reduction of 33 1-3 per cent, upon the ration prevailing up until June 30 last, so that the increased ration now announced is still 16 2-3 per cent, below the ration which prevailed until June 30. "This increase to-day represents at a maximum only 350,000 gallons per month, wdiereas the trade presented to the Government on behalf of motoring interests generally a very strong case, which has nowhere yet been refuted, advocating an increase of one million gallons per month. A further point to be remarked is that, according to the latest figures, current registrations are now showing a considerable decline as compared with the figures current this time last year; and since the coupons depend upon active registrations, the increased monthlv gallonage represented by this increased ration of one-half of one coupon per month is reduced accordingly and the indications are that it will continue reducing. QUEoXIOIN OF SAVING.

j "As previously stated bv the trade, I the increase of one million*gallons per I month which it advocated would involve additional expenditure outside of ■New Zealand of only some £27,000 per month. As recently pointed out by the Canterbury Chamoer ot Commerce in its October Bulletin, 87.85 per cent, of petrol supplies to New Zealand comes today from British protectorates oi from within the sterling block; and according to the further analysis of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, it would be only reasonable to assume that not more than half of the cost thereof would be ultimately spent on foreign exchange, involving a drain upon sterling. No doubt the additional one million gallons month, as advocated by the trade, cbuid be procured from within British protectorates or the sterling block, and therefore would entail a sterling drain of no more than £13,50(1 per month. "The Government has so now, at this important motoring season of the year, decided to increase the ration by only one-third of this relatively very small figure, and the question arises: Is the true ultimate saving proportionate to what it entails? There is certain to be very widespread disappointment and strong feeling on the subject, and it is certainly going to be asked: Why in the considerations quoted by the Government as governing the matter there is still no reference to the question of New Zealand sterling funds, wliich many are coming to believe is the real governing factor in the rationing of this country being cut below that prevailing in England, or any other Dominion or Crown Colony. Placing first the factor of the 'defence of New Zealand' the trade are surprised that no action has yet been token'to make use of the storage capacity in resellers : tanks, previously used for super fuel, and which have now been drained and are still standing empty. It is understood that ponding settlement as to who is to stand the outlay of the capital cost, these tanks are remaining empty."