CONTROL OF PETROL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 167, 12 July 1918, Page 8

CONTROL OF PETROL.

THE STATE-.STEPS IN. ■'RETAIL PRICES FIXKOD. Owing to the unsatisfactory position of tho distribution' of petrol, the Gov'.'eminent has found it necessary to asisume control over its importation, sale, ,and distribution. The Board of Trade, .'which was requested by the ■Government to investigate! the subject, has prepared regulations, of which the fol- • lowing is a summary : (a) All persons desirous of importing petrol.supplies into New Zealand should . 'Jioprojich tihe (Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies, who will be guided by the advice of the Board of Trade. ■ (b). When petrol is landed in New .Zealand, it is to be distributed by distributors who will be approved of and licensed by the Minister in C'hargo of the Munitions Department, on -the recommendation of the Board of Trade., •■■-(c) These approved distributors will be subjected to certain conditions as regards the quantities of supplies sold to consumers, and as to the price. The chief of these conditions are:— 1. -No license will be required by distributor who acquire from importers a lesser quantity than 40Q0 gallons- within any period of 28 days, but those distributors who receive more than 40CQ gallons in any such period will have to comply with the. conditions us publish- • ed, 'which include tlvo question of retail price as fixed For the four main centres. (2) Distributors must also undertake not ito supply any individual with mpre than four weeks' supply of petrol for his 'requirements, and' it will be imperative on those applying for petrol to clearly indicate, uy answer to a {.cries of .questions on a. prescribed form, what / their requirements are, and their holdings at the moment of application. (3). Every person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be t liable under tho : Regulations who !<• (a) Acquires tho ownership or. pos--.1 sess'on of petrol in. breach of tho pro- \. ■■■visions of the Regulations; or (b) Commits any broach of the terms or conditions on which a license has been granted to him under the Regulations ; or (c) Obtains any such license on a fake representation; or # (d) Fails to make any return required from him in pursuance of tho Regulations j or . (o) Makes any such return winch is false in any respect; or (f) Makes any false representation for the purpose of obtaining a supply of petrol from any other person. 4. The consumer will also be required to make returns to vendors in accordance with the gazetted' regulations, and the penalties for failure or breach arc very heavy, as indicated above. While supplies of petrol appear to bo ample for New Zealand's .requirements, it will not bo necessary to classify users further than as follow :—(1) Government and local bodies, (2> business and professions, (3) pleasure users. ' Tho onus of seeing that the more important and essential users get what preference is necessary will be upon the licensees and distributors. , ■A) 'Petrol Committee, consisting, o< those interested in the trade, will bo appointed to bo associated wiln Uio •Minister in. Charge and tho Board- of Trade. RETAIL PRICES. Tho maximum retail prices will^ lie for Class A (petrol, .motor romf, be.i7.ne naphtha, and gasoline) and Class B (distillate and naphthalito) : • f^,livi .i l At Auckland, Wellington, ChristchmUi, and Thineflin. Per case of not Per tin of, wot iSi Umui 8 gab. less thanks. Class A 27 6 g 9 Class B • 22 6 T;ma .. u ll ' * At Nanicr and Innaiu. . Class A 28 0 1 " J» C1 At WanganS New Plymouth, andGisborno. Class A :g g .\t 0 a "' B AtVercargill. . on A lfl » £ a * a A 29 6 12 3 At any "place other .than these ports t\£ maximum retail price of. petrol shall aforesaid for the port, from which-tho customarily obtains his supply of f t*+w\l or where there is no such cusemarv supply, then for the ? e TreS port, together in each case with r S idStion to the maximum retail nrico for that port n* i» equivalent to [lie actual coat of tvansportaUoi. tiv.m that port to the nlace of s<ll«.