Full Details of Petrol Ration Procedure

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1940, Page 3

Full Details of Petrol Ration Procedure

[Per Press Association. Copyright] WELLINGTON, This Day. THE PETROL RATIONING SCHEME WHICH IS TO COME INTO FORCE ON FEBRUARY 1 WAS EXPLAINED IN GREATER DETAIL BY THE MINISTER FOR SUPPLY (MR. SULLIVAN) LAST EVENING. He said that every endeavour had been made to allocate the petrol available, first to essential users, secondly to semi-essential users, and the balance for private and domestic purposes, in a manner that would cause as little upset and hardship as possible.

Owners of all classes of motor ears, irrespective of the purpose for which tin* vehicles may be used, are authorised to use coupons numbered 15 to .18, both inclusive, for February.

Cars For Business. This means that owners of cars will be able to obtain 12 gallons for February in the case*«of cars of over 14.5 horsdpower, and eight gallons ( forf cars under that horsepower rating. Owners of .all classes of motor cycles will be entitled to four gallons for February. “For the purposes of petrol rationing,” Mr Sullivan said, “motor oars used for business purposes will be classified according to whether the war is essential or semi-essential to the conduct of business. “In cases where the owner of a car can satisfy his local controller the car is essential for the conduct of his business, he will receive a maximum of 30 gallons for February, if his car is over 14.5 horsepower, and 20 gallons if under that rating. Present Licenses for Amendment. “In cases where cars are essential to a limited extent for the carrying on of any business, a maximum allowance of 12 gallons and eight gallons for February is available for large and small cars respectively in this group.” Mr Sullivan said that holders of ordinary licenses for supplies of petrol should present their licenses on or after February 1 next to their local controller for amendment. Any person who did not require petrol under a license should return his license to his local controller. Special steps were being taken to make substantial savings in petrol consumed in goods and passenger transport services licensed under the Transpof-t Licensing Act. Private Trucks. As regards private trucks, that is, trucks used by farmers, merchants, e.tc., for the carriage of their own goods, and not licensed under the Transport Act, experience had shown that in the great majority of cases oil fuel licenses for this class of vehicle provided for quantities of petrol substantially in excess of the amount consumed.

It was proposed, therefore, to effect an overall reduction of one-third in existing licenses for this class of vehicle, and owners of these trucks should present their licenses on or after February 1 to their local controllers for consideration and amendment.

As to Government vehicles, steps were being taken to effect an overall reduction of at least one-fifth in the petrol consumed by all Government departments. All local and public authorities were being asked to co-operate by effecting a reduction of at least one-fifth in their normal petrol consumption.

Private Launches.

Owners of private launches would, on application to their local controllers, be granted licenses up to half of their normal consumption for the period during which their launches are generally used. “While every precaution will be taken to prevent wastage in petrol consumed otherwise than in motor vehicles,” Mr Sullivan said, “it is realised that no definite reduction cquld be made in the group which, comprises milking machines, farm tractors, etc., without directly affecting national production, and no reduction is being made in this class. “The above allocations will exhaust practically the whole of the petrol available for February. “I regret very much it is not possible at this stage to make petrol available for holiday tours, but motorists who are already away on tom’ will be allowed sufficient petrol to get them home again. Exhibition \ : isits. “To assist the people of the Dominion to visit the Centennial Exhibition, I have arranged for reduced railway fares to operate from all stations in the North Island to Wellington, and all stations in the South Island to Lytelton during February. The reduced fares will represent a saving of approximately 20 per cent, of ordinary fares, and a further reduction will be available to organised parties of six or more passengers. Tickets will be available for two weeks from the date of issue. During February, consideration will be given to the extension of the period during which the reduced railway fares will be in operation, and the decision will be announced later.

Rationing Really Essential.

“During December, I made an appeal to all owners of motor vehicles to endeavour to reduce consumption so that there would'be a reduction of 30 per cent, in the consumption for the whole country. “This means that the average monthly consumption should be not more than just over 6,000,000 gallons. “Recent figures, however, show that the consumption for December accounted for just over 9,000,000 gallons, and for January so far it has been at the rate of just over 2,250,000 gallons ,a week.

“This shows that rationing, with all its drawbacks, is really essential if' we are to make a serious attempt to reduce our petrol consumption.”

Identified.—A message from Amsterdam says thp German steamer which is aground on the coast of Jutland, and which sent out an 5.0.5., but later refused aid, is the. Claus Rickmers (5165 tons), laden with iron ore from Norway. She was driven off her course in a snowstorm.