ECONOMY IN USE OF PETROL

Southland Times, Issue 24003, 19 December 1939, Page 4

ECONOMY IN USE OF PETROL

DIVERTING FUNDS FOR WAR REDUCTION IN SUPPLY MAY BE NECESSARY MINISTER’S APPEAL TO PUBLIC (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 18. An appeal for the exercise of economy in the use of petrol was made by the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) tonight. The British Government, he said, had recently cabled to the New Zealand Government inviting the co-operation of the Dominion in the reduction of this country s consumption of oil fuel. The Minister, who mentioned the possibility of a 30 per cent, reduction in New Zealand s normal supplies, said there were many ways in which petrol could be conserved without causing undue inconvenience. One of the most important was by reducing speed. “Personal sacrifice will be necessary whether we are at home or in the front line,” said Mr Sullivan. “For those of us at home this sacrifice will be urgently required in the conservation of a vital war material, petrol. For many years past this country has purchased from the United States quite a good deal more than the United States has purchased from us. Last year the balance of trade in favour of the United States exceeded £2,000,000 and all of this sum had to be made up out of the dollar funds available to us in London. Every single American dollar available on the London exchange is now required for the purchase of war supplies by the British Empire. Great Britain invites New Zealand, in common with the other Dominions and the rest of the Empire to regard the dollar funds from the Empire point of view. In other words every dollar saved by New Zealand is a dollar more for the Empire. CASH AND CARRY “The recently passed American neutrality legislation instituted a cash-and-carry plan which prevents the obtaining of munitions and aeroplanes on credit. Cash- is required for war purchases and we must be careful not to allow our demands to reduce the supplies of articles of war urgently required by the Empire. “During 1937-38 we spent considerably more than £1,000,000 on American petrol. During the past two years we have also obtained considerable quantities of petrol from other sources which are being called on to fulfil extra demands due to the war. The British Government has asked if it would be possible for us, in common with other parts of the Empire, to reduce our petrol consumption to the extent that it is done in Great Britain. While this degree of reduction may be considered severe, it may be necessary for us to make a sacrifice of perhaps 30 per cent, of our normal supplies so that we may do our part to make funds available for expenditure in the United States. “There are some services requiring oil fuel which are essential to the community and others require adequate supplies of petrol if national production is not to be curtailed. It will be seen, therefore, that if supplies are.to be reduced over all by, say, 30 per cent, the sacrifice by the private car owner must be more than 30 per cent.”

REDUCTION IN SPEED After mentioning that reduction in speed was one of the most important ways of conserving petrol, Mr Sullivan said that a motor-car travelling at 60 miles an hour consumed for each mile more than twice as much benzine and three times as much oil as the same car travelling at 30 miles an hour. There were other means, of course, by which one could reduce petrol consumption, by eliminating unnecessary mileage and by taking alternative means of transport if possible. He did not want, of course, to deprive people of their planned holiday tours but he would ask them to remember the war and keep down their speed and help the Mother Country, in that way. Arrangements were being made for the Oil Fuel Controller (Mr G. L. Laurenson) to discuss questions of petrol conservation with the interested parties such as motor unions, transport interests and the Farmers’ Union. The Government was at the moment making a thorough survey of the possibilities of using producer gas as a substitute for petrol. All New Zealanddesigned plants and one or two from overseas would be tested and it was hoped by the end of January to make the report available. It would give all interested parties full details of the practical utility of these gas-producing plants. “I would suggest that if there are any designers who wish to have their plants thoroughly investigated they should communicate with the Oil Fuel Controller immediately,” said Mr Sullivan. “The Government dislikes restrictions as much as does the public but I feel confident that all will do their best to help our country and the Empire in this time of emergency.”