SAVING MORE PETROL

Southland Times, Issue 24163, 27 June 1940, Page 6

SAVING MORE PETROL

Meeting Dominion’s Defence Needs

“MOTORISTS MUST

USE LESS”

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 26. “To conserve shipping space and also to maintain a sufficient supply of fuel in New Zealand to meet all possible -defence requirements motorists must use less fuel than they are doing at present,” stated the Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) today when he met the executive committee of the Automobile Association (Wellington). The Minister asked for the co-operation of the association, stating that he would prefer to have fuel saved voluntarily. However, if the motorists would not help, direct action would be taken.

Later in the day the Minister met representatives of the Wellington carriers to discuss the same subject. The case of carriers was somewhat different, he said, because they must carry on, but they could cut out waste by agreeing to zoning. The Government had the right to restrict the use of motor fuel, Mr Semple said, but he felt that it was only right to give the users the opportunity to do soTnething in the voluntary way. The international situation was changing from day to day and hour to hour, and every step necessary must be taken to conserve essential supplies so that the country would be in a position to meet anything the future might hold. Mr Semple outlined what had been done to build up an efficient Air Force and said that the pushing ahead of construction work by modern methods had enabled them to train young men who were going overseas to take part in the war in the air. However, aerodromes, hangars and aeroplanes were of no use without fuel and oil, and crude oil had to be held in Sufficient reserves to keep the country safe. There had to be a stocktaking of everything so that I'Jew Zealand could feed and care for all New Zealanders and at the same time sent as much produce as possible to Britain. “Everyone who saves a gallon of benzine is doing something towards winning the war,” Mr Semple said. “I want them to do it voluntarily. If I have to I will compel them, but I don’t want to use the big stick. We have got to forget our own selfish interests and work for the community as a whole,” Mr Semple added. Action had already been taken to restrict the use of Government cars and he could assure the'public that wastage in that direction would stop.