BENZINE FAMINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17361, 7 January 1920, Page 8

BENZINE FAMINE.

EXHAUSTION )OF STOCKS/ l r ~..ui

MOTOR DRIVERS' TROUBLES.

CARGO EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.

No improvement has yet taken place with regard to the benzine supply, and several leading Auckland firms yesterday stated that they were absolutely without stocks. Others hare a few cases in hand, but these are merely being held for the completion of regular orders. Taxidrivers and others have been hard put to it to obtain supplies to tide them over the holiday season, but the fact that by some means they suceeded was sufficiently evident in the volume of traffic. Some oi them had a few cases laid by for an emergency, others have been lucky enough to have " a friend in the trade" who ha: managed to secure them an odd case 01 two. A large number of cars are novi running on distillate, the lowest grade o spirit, but supplies of this are also limited The position in country districts is sucl that drivers of motor-cars and launchei are making every effort to conserve theii supplies. The proprietor of a popular sea side boardinghouse was only able to maki one trip per day from the wharf lust weel 'or the convenience of holiday visitors in

,tead of two, in view of the necessity for seeping sufficient benzine to bring food.applies for his boarders. Tho next shipment of benzine duo in Auckland 13 expected to arrive from San bMnrisco by the Wairun* next week; she is supposed to have nbout 50,000 cases on board, and if this proves correct, the market will be restored to normal. A shipment from Sumatra was expected towards the end of the month, but aavice has' been received that this has been diverted.

One large firm of importers, foreseeing a shortage of benzine, cabled a rush order for 30.000 cases to San Francisco about the middle of last month, but no advice has yet been received os to when the shipment is likely to arrive.

COMPLAINTS BY FISHERMEN

NO SUPPLIES FOR BOATS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

He hardships imposed upon the fishernen of the Waitemata and Kaipara by :he shortage of benzine were explained resterday to the Hon. Sir William E'erries, Minister for Marine, by a deputation consisting of Mr. H. E. Barnsley, secretary of the Northern Fishermen's Union, and Mr. Fora Long, of the Returned Soldiers' Information Bureau. s Mr. F. N. Bartram, U.P. for Grey Lynn, was also present. The present position, as stated by Mr. Barnsley, was that seven fishing boats lay die in Auckland for want of benzine, and me week's work would exhaust the supplies at Helensville. The Prvme Minister lad promised on December cc, to refer the juestion of the benzine supply for the iniustty to the Board of Trade in order to lee what could bo done. Lately there had Men a shortage in the supply of fish by :he Waitesaata trawlers, and this could lave been made up by the line fishermen lad benzine been available. He knew of me man who had been offered a single case it £2 10s. One case, however, was absoutely useless, as most fishermen had to go ■hrco or four miles beyond Tiritiri in their ivork, and at least three cases must be aken out. People who used motor-boat: 'or pleasure' were able to afford to pay prices as high as £2 10s, but to fishermen such a charge was prohibitive. If it had to be paid they would be obliged /o break the pledge they gave two years ago not to raise the price they charged to the dealers. Fhey were not satisfied with the Prime Minister's reply, though it probably represented the best that could be done. Numjers of returned soldiers who had obtained idvanccs from the Repatriation Departnent upon their boats' were unable in the :ircumgtances to fulfil their obligations, jecause of their inability to procure benrtne. If relief could not be afforded immediately he would advise the fishermen to ake employment that was offered at the reeling works and lay up their boats until jenzine could be procured. Mr. Long suggested that as the benzine liff«n£ty did not appear to be so acute in ;he sooth the Government should arrange o procure benzine from other centres. Mr. Barnsley sa'd that tho fishermen at Kaikoura and Lyttelton, without any organisation, wero able to purchase benzine it 2s 6d per case less than the Auckland price. •*. Mr. Long pointed out that when it was shown to the Prime Minister that other primary industries, such as farming, were affected by the scarcity of benzine he ordered 700 cases to be broueht from Wellington to Auckland. Ev'dently, then, it could be spared in the south. He urged that the claims of such an industry as fishing should be put before those of pleasure-boats. Another 100 cases from Wellington or Christchurch would t ; de over the immediate difficulty, and enable the pnbl'c to be supplied with fish. Mr. Barnsley said that during the "school fish" season, now about due. fish were plentiful in the golf, and the fishermen lockid to this period to make up for the parts of the year When fish were scarce. Difficulties also arose between them and the dealers owing to the enforced irregularity of suoply. Sir William Herrieg promised that he would telegraph to the Prime Minister fornrng him of the acuteness of the situa tion in Auckland, and askinsr if 100 casei could not be found for the fishermen.