TRAVELLING MOTORISTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24431, 17 October 1940, Page 8

TRAVELLING MOTORISTS

HOW PETROL OBTAINED RIGHTS OF TRAFFIC INSPECTORS AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION’S PROTEST (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 16. A protest against the rights invested in Main Highways’ traffic inspectors to stop motorists travelling beyond the district in which their vehicles are registered and question the drivers as to how they obtained sufficient petrol for such trips was made at a meeting of the Automobile Association (Auckland) to-night. It was reported that an Auckland motorist was recently asked to furnish an explanation to the Oil Fuel Controller as to how, without an oil fuel licence, he obtained petrol to make regular week-end trips to Beachlands, so that his monthly mileage was about 450. Later inquiries showed that the action was taken as a result of an anonymous report.' but a -wrong registration number was quoted, and the motorist concerned was wrongly implicated. Members expressed surprise that a Government official had acted on information supplied anonymously. It was decided to ask for a complete explanation of the matter and suggest an apology, which appeared to be justified but not given, should be addressed to the motorist involved The president, Mr F G. Farrell. sau) that any motorist was within his rights to give any number of petrol coupons to his friends if he felt so disposed, but it was illegal tb sell a coupon. In view of this official assurance it was wrong that motorists should be stopped and questioned as to whether they came by their petrol legitimately. “Are we to be subjected to these Gestapo methods? ” Mr Farrell asked. “While the petrol rationing position obtains, we must get some definite ruling on the matter. It is time we took a stand and refused to lie down under regulations which make the position possible.’’ Mr Farrell was instructed lo interview the Commissioner of Transport during his visit to Wellington at the end of the month.