DRASTIC CUT IN PETROL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 June 1941, Page 5

DRASTIC CUT IN PETROL

FIRST EFFECT FELT MR MENZIES’ NEW POLICY Canberra, June 18. The first majoi effect of Mr Menzies’ speech on Australia’s war policy was an announcement to-day by the Minister of Supply of dras it petrol cuts, chiefly affecting privatt motorists, whose present supply is being cut by half, limiting them to 1000 miles a yeai' and becoming operative in August. Taxis and private hire cars will be further reduced to 40 per cent of the original rationing sca'e Commercial vehicles will receive onl- 60 per cent of the original ration. Omnibus and service cars will be cut by 15 per cent Corresponding reductions will apply to farm and miscellaneous classes of vehicles and .iolor-boats. Motoring interests rays the new rationing plan will sound the deathknell of private motoring. Trade union leaders expressed concern at Mr Menzies's “threatened coercive measures’’ against their leaders. The secretary of the New South Wales Labour Council, Mr R. King, voiced the opinion of mo: t Labour officials when he said the Labour movement was not prepared to submit kindly to attacks on the liberty of trade unionists. Me added that if workers displaced by industrial restriction were not absorber it would be tantamount lo industrial conscription.—U.P.A.