STARVING MOTOR CARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14984, 4 May 1912, Page 8

STARVING MOTOR CARS.

A SEVERE PETROL FAMINE.

EXTRAVAGANT PRICES.

[by telegraph.—press association.]

CmnsTCHURCH, Friday. T«b petrol famine" is strongly felt in Cbristchurch. ' The price of petrol has risen, and now not a drop is to be obtained from the principal distributing agency, the Vacuum Oil Company. The garages in tho city and some of the oil business firms have supplies for five weeks, but it is anticipated that the next two weeks will seo a material induction of tho city's motor traffic. There are reports of fabulous prices being offered for petrol, even up to 53 a. case. Those, however, cannot be authenticated, though there is no doubt that as much as £1 15s has been paid for one case con* taining eight gallons. One firm in the city is retailing petrol in two-gallon quantities, at 2a 6d per gallon, or at the rate of £1 a case; and it will not sell move than two gallons to any one customer. The idea is to distribute the stock ae widely sib possible, so that petrol will only be purchased by people as they require it. Quite a number of firms, and particularly those engaged in drapery and grocery business, have discarded horse delivery vans in favour of a motor delivery. Some of them are in tho fortunate position of having stocks of petrol sufficient for a few weeks, but others havo been left in the. lurch. Tho latter hope that the wholesale firms with which they havo been dealing will see them through. One firm at least intends to help its commercial clien- | tele in this direction. Effect on Trade and Traffic. Private motor cars will probably cease running to some extent at an early date, | but it is ridiculous to suggest that within a week or so there will bo no motor vehi- ! cles running' in Ohristchurch. Ojic commercial firm has at least six weeks' supplies for its machines. | The firuiß engaged in motor and rubber j business are rather pessimistic as to the 'effect the shortage ot petrol will have on | their operations. It seems to be certain I that a large number of vehicles will be j withdrawn from commission, and consequently there will be a decline in the demand for tyres and accessories, and a considerable falling off in repairs. The tyre turnover by eoine of tho motor firms is enormous. The immediate withdrawal of taxi-cabs from street hire is not contemplated, but there will be a reduction in tho night services. Some of the garage proprietors are giving their drivers their annual holidays at once, so that the men will lose as little as possible by their enforced idleness. The garage proprietors fear a fairly heavy loss if the famine continues. Substitutes Available. Every ordinary substitute for petrol has been bought up with the petrol. There are some cars, which will run on kerosene, but a special engine is required for its efficient use. s There are all sorts of rumours about various substitutes being tried, and an old story about a motor party coming in from Little River by feeding a bottle of whisky into their machine is being revived. The Christchurch Fire Brigade, has enough petrol in stock to last its motors for three months, as when the shortage was rumoured an extra month's supply was secured. Several people have tried to borrow petrol from tho brigade, but their applications were not entertained. Explanation of the Shortage, Inquiries at the local office of the Vacuum Oil -Company ..suggest' that there is no prospect of the famine being ? relieved in the near , future The steamer Hohenfeld will arrive shortly, and will land petrol at Lyttelton and Sydney; but the quantity on board will not fully meet the demand; and it will be _ some time in July before the large shipments in the steamers Anglo-Saxon and Dunclulha will be available. ■'

The reasons for the present shortage are said to bo'that the chartered vessels had been delayed, «nd the demand for petrol had been extraordinary for this Reason of the year. Instead of sales falling off after January, as they usually do, they kept up. and as much was sent out in March as in January. The company sold its stock at the ordinary prices, and buyers were not allowed to take all they asked for, the stock being parcelled up as reasonably as possible. The possibility of getting supplies from Australia is being freely discussed, but at present there is no reliable information as to the position in the Commonwealth, and the general impression is that the shortage is being felt (hero.