Small Petrol Licenses Are To Be Restored

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1945, Page 6

Small Petrol Licenses Are To Be Restored

(P.A.b WELLINGTON. This Day The Minister for Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) feaid today that his attention had been drawn to a Press report of a meeting of the executive of the South Island Motor Union in Christchurch recently.

"I note the desire of the union to have petrol rationing removed as soon as possible," said Mr. Sullivan, "and I would like to say we are at this moment in touch with supply authorities overseas to see just to what extent we can relax petrol rationing. It is the Government’s desire to lift restrictions as soon as possible, but the latest cabled advice from the Secretary for the Dominions emphasises that there are heavy 'oil fuel obligations, especially in relation to liberated areas and the maintenance of armies of occupation.

“In regal’d to the small petrol licenses which were recently cancelled,” added the Minister, ’now that Britain has further increased allowances to private motorists, I have instructed the C-il Fuel Controller that the small licenses are to be restored as from September 1, and arrangemens have been made accordingly. "Until the position has bean finalised with Britain private motorists’ allowances must necessarily remain at double the face value of coupons.” The Minister warned the public that the rubber and tyre position remained very acute, and the prospect of replacements for non-essential purposes was most uncertain, and probably remote. He urged motorists to keep this fact in mind.