PETROL LICENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25560, 13 June 1944, Page 4

PETROL LICENCES

REVIEW BY AUTHORITIES OUTLINE OF POLICY (Special) WELLINGTON, June 12. The review of oil fuel licences which it was recently announced was to be made has begun. When such adjustments have been made previously they have tended to be disputatious proceedings, the efforts of the deputy oil fuel controllers to decide how much petrol is essential for each applicant often leaving feelings of grievance. Applicants who feel they have been treated unjustly may take their cases to the advisory committee for the district but already complaints have been voiced, one being that arbitrary rules were being followed without regard to the circumstances of each case. It is stated officially that this is not so. The oil fuel controller, Mr G. L. Laurenson, said that, in reviewing business licences, local controllers with their advisory committees were deciding the amounts to be made available in accordance with one main rule, which was that the minimum amount of petrol was to be made available to applicants to enable them to carry on their businesses, including running to and from work. Very few hard and fast rules had been laid down. Pointing out that some cars used by business people were kept in suburban garages and had to be brought to city places of business each day before they could be used for the real purpose for which the licences were granted, he said the garaging of such cars in the city was encouraged. An instruction was being given that provision was to be made for oil fuel to enable the applicants to use their cars in travelling between homes and business premises only in very exceptional circumstances. “It is felt,” said Mr Laurenson. “that the local controllers, with their advisory committees, should have reasonably intimate local knowledge and should be able to deal with most cases on their merits.” ~ Business car licences are being dealt with first, and when they have been finished licences held by truck owners and other persons carrying on commercial activities will be reviewed.