PETROL SHORTAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15275, 24 July 1920, Page 7

PETROL SHORTAGE.

.\ii;mp,i:rs still curious. WELLLXC.TOX, this day. The nliottiigi' of ]>olrul has prompted many questions m the House recently, and 'there weic thive yesterday. Mr I'or.vdrell (Patea) inquirod of the Minister m charge of the Board vi Trade why Hawera. -farmerA who had imported 3000 cases of benzine were not allowed tr> secure more than. 2000 cases, seeing that the Government declared it wished to encourage the •importation of petrol. Tlu\ Board -of Tra do^had: decided that lOOG^oaseir miu«t 'be idismputedMn j\'\*ellington. — Mr Leo rep'lied^that as no notice had been given ofc the question he had no kiiformat iu'n to give m reply. Dr. Newman tackled the game Minister regarding the Aiistraliah contract with the Aiiglo-Persian Oil Co., which had resulted m giving the Common-wealth-ample supplies of oil. "Why. <ould not his country make a similar contract?'" he asked. — Mi- Lee undertook to have the matter looked into. He suggested there >was a -world's shortage of •petrol owing to the enormous increase m consumption. It -was • tho Government's policy to endeavor to preserve oil for essential purposes. Mr Sullivan asked the Prime Minister to get an expert to report on att-empts to bore for oil at Chertsey. A good deal of work hud been, done, and it would be valuable to give local people .some m formation as to the prospects. — Mr Massey assured the questioner that ho would be gluil to favorably consider the request. — Parliamentary Reporter.