MOTORING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 16 April 1928, Page 9

MOTORING

PRICE OF PETROL

(By Edwin Campbell—For "The Mail")

Motorists are wondering if tin' reported rappvochmcut between the w.ir-i-lncr Standard Oil ( ompany of America ami the Kovnl Dutch Shell Corporation is likelv 1c have any repercussions in tin- prices of petrol. Those <>f us who have anv Ion" memories in such matters recall that invariably such reconcilements in the past were succeeded hv definite inereases in,the price of petrol, and. accepting the inherent truth <>f the aphorism that history reprats itself, we may as well prepare ourselves for sonre such movement. Hut it will not he so easily or so simply elfeeted as in the past. There now is a considerable supply of motor litel mitside the control of the "Big Three' linns which hitherto have dictated the market prices of petrol and petroleum. and. ill addition, there are so many separate interests'in the crude oil field that the negotiations and agreements preliminary to any movement in the petrol market must occupy more time to reach definite decisions. About this time of year, as a rule, the fuel market begins in liven up and prices follow suit. At the moment they are low enough to disarm a criticism that never appears to sleep, and any morninp now we may open our newspapers to discover that' our fuel is to cost us more. Tn anv case 1 apprehend that benzole will' appreciate in price because it will he mute freely incorporated witli petrol now that the anhpinking properties of Ethyl have been ronclnsivelv established. Benzole has a similar' effect. but unfortunately there is not sufficient manufactured to meet all the anticipated demand and most of the supplies are under the control of the bip petrol importing concerns.