PETROL RATIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23700, 5 July 1940, Page 5

PETROL RATIONS

PLAN IN AUSTRALIA DECREASED PRICE LIKELY MINISTER BUYS' A NEW CAR [from oun'owx coiirksponiiknt] SYDNEY, July 3 "Rationing of petrol is likely to begin in Australia next month, and plans are now almost completed. Australians have been fortunate to go for nearly a year of war with their petrol iiffected by only a rise of 6d a gallon in tho price. The proposed scale is eight gallons a month for vehicles up to 14 h.p., 12 gallons for vehicles of 14 h.p. to 20 h.p. and 16 gallons for vehicles over 20 h.p. The Minister of Supply, Sir Frederick Stewart, who has fought for a long time to stave off rationing, said that the Government's scheme would not limit motoring as much as many people seemed to believe. "The Federal Government does not intend to compel motorists to shut their garage doors entirely," lie said. Rationing is aimed at eliminating waste of petrol. The proposed allowance will still permit of reasonable use of the family car. Business vehicles "will be given preferential allowances. There is no need lor petrol-users to panic, ft may be reassuring for motorists to know that, with full knowledge of the Government's intentions, I have recently bought ;v new car."

As a preliminary to the introduction of rationing, a plan has been approved by the Government for the pooling of all petrol products. All storage and distribution facilities will be pooled by agreement with oil companies. Individual trading by bulk suppliers will cease and all sales will be made by tho pool under a common brand. Supplies will be provided to the pool by members in quota proportion. Importers aro taking action 011 tanker programmes to ensure as far as possible that full use will be made of the storage space available by pooling, and that present stocks will be increased. . Lower retail petrol prices should result from the Federal Government s petrol pooling system, in the opinion of Sir Frederick Stewart. "The elimination of competition with, all its intense and costly salesmanship should permit of a reduced price to tbo public, lie said "This is not the least of the attractive features of the scheme to the Government."