BENZINE AND PETROL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 56

BENZINE AND PETROL.

SHORTAGE IN NEW ZEALAND

AUCKLAND, .May 2.

The position with regard to the threatened benzine famine remains unaltered. During the last few days there has been a big run on local stocks, and those who should be competent to form an accurate opinion state that doubt exists as to whether the supplies will hoid out until the arrival of the steamer Hohenfels from New York, via Melbourne and Sydney, about a fortnight hence. No other oil boats have yet beea as leaving New York for New Zealand, and the run takes about 80 days. , , . Although smaller consumers report that they have to pay as high as 15e per case, the manager of a big oil firm told a press representative this morning that his company had not raised the price above the normal. This is about lis 6d per case. CHRISTCHURCH, May 2.

There is consternation in the ranks of motorists and, owners of petrol-driven machines owing to an acute shortage in the supply of petrol in the Dominion, and it is anticipated that it will be six or seven weeks before an abundant supply of petrol is available. In the meantime fancy prices are being paid for petrol, and" there is eager competition among motorists whenever any is offered for sale. It is anticipated that as the shortage becomes more acute there will be numerous petrol-driven vehicles out of commission ; in fact, the shortage may have a very serious effect on business in Christ- 1 church and in other cities in -the Dominion.

AUCKLAND, May 5. It has been ascertained that the steamer Hohenfels, which arrived at Melbourne yesterday, en route for Auckland, haa 5000 cases of petrol on board for thi* port. The steamer Anglo-Saxon left New

York on April 25 for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. She has " 45 000 cases of oil on board for Auckland, including 18,000 cases of petrol, and a proportionate cargo for the southern ports named. POSITION IN DUNEDIN. Inquiries made on Monday at one of the leading Dunedin garages elicited the fact that the proprietors had stopped the sale of petrol to everyone except their every-day customers, and even these have to put up with liaving their orders reduced in quantity. It is considered that it will be some time towards the end of June before a Dunedin cargo will be to hand, and by that time the position should be rather acute so far as local conditions are concerned. . . At the present time keen inquiries are being received from Christchurch for both benzine and petiol, and one firm received an order for 50 cases of the former spirit from the northern town at an advance of per gallon on the ordinary price. This order, however, could not be executed. A man who plies a motor launch for hire on one of the Otago lakes applied for 30 cases of benzine, and had to be satisfied with five. The possibility of importing supplies of spirit from Australia is now being considered, and there seems no reason why this course should not be adopted, and the shortage at once considerably provided against. The Melbourne branch of the British Imperial Oil Company, which controls the output of the "Shell" brand of spirit, is understood to have only a limited quantity to spare beyond its ordinary requirements, but this surplus it is offering to sell at a price f.o.b. Sydney or Melbourne. The volatile spirit has to be carried as deck cargo on the intercolonial steamers, and the maximum quantity for one trip is restricted to 500 cases. However, the quantity of Pratt's and Shell spirit available from Australia should, if imported, be sufficent to tide over the New" Zealand petrol famine till direct supplies are to hand, and it is highly probable that these supplies will be requisitioned. Meanwhile the local price for both benzine and petrol remains unchanged.