PETROL CONSUMPTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 21 June 1940, Page 4

PETROL CONSUMPTION

IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IMPERATIVE APPEAL TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES The necessity for an immediate reduction in the consumption of petrol was emphasised by the Min ister of Supply, the Hon. I). G. Sullivan, in an interview last evening. He indicated that unless petrol users did this of their own volition further rationing was inevitable. . “There is no need for me to tell the average New Zealander about the gravity of the international situation.’ said Mr Sullivan. “Our petrol has to , be brought from overseas a distance of at least 3000 miles. Oil fuel is so vita’ | fo our defence and to our national pro- ; duction that the Government would be j failing in its duty if it did not protect I existing reserves. This can only be | done of all private car owners and commercial users restrict their consumption to the barest minimum. I do not wish to reduce the present rations, but we definitely must restrict , consumption further, and that at once. I make an earnest appeal to all petrol users to make it their patriotic duty ■ not to use a drop more petrol than is • absolutely essential, otherwise there j will be further rationing.” EFFECT ON TRANSPORT APPEALS j “One of the considerations taken into ; account by me when deciding recent ; appeals against decisions given by the , Transport Licensing Authorities, has i been the effect of the continued opera- ! tion of road services on the Dominion’s ■ supplies of petrol.” said the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, in a ■ statement yesterday. “This considera- . tion is to-day very much more important than it was even a few days ago. “Appeals lodged within the last two or three months are now before me and have been examined. Decisions will be issued this week. For the information of all concerned, I may say that where alternative freight services by rail for distances of more than 30 miles are available, together with linked-up services provided by area ( operators. I have feund it undesirable in the public interest to authorise the continued operation of any of these long-distance petrol-consuming services. ' They are therefore being suspended till (; further notice. 'j “Appeals are also before me in rei spect of various ancillary services, that ; is, services operated by firms and individuals for the carriage of their own 'goods. In these cases alternative trans- !| port can be provided by the public ser- ■ vices, and the ancillary services in question are being suspended till further notice.”