Petrol Coupons Pooled

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23601, 9 March 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

Petrol Coupons Pooled

ONE-CAR PARTIES PLAN EASTER TRIPS

LONG-DISTANCE touring must necessarily be drastically curtailed during the Easter holidays because of the petrol restrictions. Resourceful motorists, however, are loth to confine their mileages, and intend pooling their supplies to enable one-car parties to make a good trip, the majority seemingly having a visit to the Exhibition in Wellington in view. It is surprising how many people, seeking to surmount the coupon problem, have chosen to conserve their month's supplies of petrol for the sole purpose of enjoying Easter motoring.

It is also amazing how many friends have planned to go away together in one car, using two, three and in some cases four issues of coupons to cover the trip. The car likely to be chosen is that using least petrol. In spite of any dissatisfaction at the extent to which restrictions will interfere with the holiday, motorists should indeed be thankful that they will not be faced with the privileges of British drivers. After abandoning their cars for the winter, they will have the limited margin of two or three gallons, according to the size of their cars, to work on for Easter. Drivers in New Zealand receive in a month four times the quantity of petrol to which the British owner is entitled only for his holiday. At least with such a supply New Zealanders can drive somewhere beyond the confines of the cities, and it is readily conceivable that they will take full advantage of the position. There are many motorists who must rely on their own coupons, and plan their holiday motoring in accordance with the mileage available. Many pleasant trips can be made within a 100-mile radius in the province by those who have saved their petrol. A run to Whangarei and through the Waipoua Forest is not beyond the limits of a month's supply, while southward interesting tours may be made to Hamilton, Cambridge, Okauia, near

Matamata, Okoroire, Te Aroha, Thames and the Coromandel Peninsula. Road conditions in these areas were not affected by the recent storm, and all locations are within handy range of Auckland to offer agreeable Easter touring. However, where the month's quota has already been broached, smaller mileages will bo essential, and liere again Aucklanders are fortunate in having so many delightful resorts for day or week-end jaunts. The West Coast beaches always make an attractive drive, Piha, Kerikeri and Muriwai being most popular, while en route to Whatipu there are the appealing Manukau beaches at Cornwall and Huia. The eastern beaches within reach stretch from North Head to Long Beach, Orewa and Waiwera, and touring may also be extended to the Mahurangi Peninsula, access to which is from Warkworth. Southward the coastal resorts of interest include Howick and Beachlands, extending around Kaiaua and Miranda. Inland locations may also be favoured, and Hunua Falls with streamside picnic sites in the surrounding district may appeal to many. The hot springs at Helensville never fail to attract their share of attention.