RATIONING PLAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26545, 21 August 1947, Page 6

RATIONING PLAN

SEVERE CUTS NOT EXPECTED MINISTER’S STATEMENT Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Aug. 20. “ While New Zealand has undertaken to reduce her petrol consumption for the purpose of assisting in the present dollar crisis, it must necessarily be some time before details of any rationing scheme are completed,” said the Minister of Supply, Mr Nordmeyer, to-night. The Minister added that no good purpose was therefore served by raiding petrol stations and filling containers with petrol. Such practice, Mr Nordmeyer said, was not only a deplorable exhibition of selfishness in a time which called for willing self-sacrifice, but might render the persons concerned liable for prosecution. The keeping of petrol in containers was a definite fire risk, and in most cases rendered a fire insurance policy void. It is understood that the Government is anxious to avoid a return to the coupon method of petrol rationing in vogue during the war period. While the Minister is reticent about cuts likely to be made, it is believed that these will not be very severe. It would not be surprising if efforts were made, in consultation with the trade and motor interests concerned, to adopt a form of voluntary rationing at any rate in the next few months. No doubt the Government’s decision will be largely influenced by the cooperation which is exhibited by motoring interests, representatives of which the Minister is to meet to-morrow morning.