FUTURE PETROL SUPPLIES

Southland Times, Issue 24765, 9 June 1942, Page 4

FUTURE PETROL SUPPLIES

MOTORISTS TO SEEK INFORMATION

Action to secure information by the middle of this month of future probable petrol rations for private cars was decided on by the genoral committee of the Automobile Association (Southland) last mg i • It was stated that many motorists were hesitating to relicense their cars until they knew what petrol was likely to be available. It was also decided to recommend that registration for quarterly periods be allowed.

A letter was received from the secretary of the South Island Motor Union (Mr P. Harvey) stating that eftorts were being made to secure information about future petrol supplies to assist motorists in deciding whether to renew the registration of their cars. NOT IN A HURRY

Mr G. Tapper asked if it would not be advisable to recommend members not to relicense their cars until a reply was received to the inquiry about future petrol supplies. He personally would not be in a hurry to relicense his car because of insufficient information being available. The president, Mr M. M. Macdonald, said he would not like to take the responsibility of advising motorists not to register their cars. The association could ask the South Island Motor Union to press for an announcement by the middle of June about the ration which would be available in July and, if possible, in August. An inquiry was made by Mr S. C. K. Smith about the position of E.P.S. members who had received notice from the authorities of intention to impress their vehicles. If they did not relicence their cars because of the impending impressment, the cars would be immobilized.

In such cases the E.P.S. authorities would probably not be prepared to pay for registration and the cars would not be available in an emergency, said the president. Mr F. G. O’Beirne said a rumour was current that motorists who did not relicence their cars would have their tyres impressed. The rumour was certainly widely current, but it probably referred principally to lorries, said Mr Tapper. The rumour had spread right through New Zealand. Mr J. D. Campbell: It is only a rumour and we can’t take any notice of it. ACUTE TYRE FAMINE Such an action by the authorities would not be surprising in view of the acute famine in tyres, said the president. It was decided to ask for an announcement by the middle of June of the ration which would be available in July and, if possible, in August. The president said the association had made strong representations to the South Island Motor Union in support of the claim for a reduction of registration fees because of the small amount of petrol which had been available in the last year.

Dr S. E. V. Brown asked if the association had considered the advisability of recommending the authorities to arrange relicensing of motor-cars for a three-monthly period. As owners had no information about future petrol supplies they .were reluctant to register their cars for a year, but they might consider doing so for a quarter. If the Government found the revenue was declining sharply it might agree to the suggestion. The president said unofficial suggestions had been made that registration be on a monthly basis, but that would probably put too much work on to the Post Office. The Government might agree to a period of three months. It was certainly in force in the United Kingdom. It was decided to ask the South Island Motor Union to request the Government to make provision for quarterly registration of motor vehicles.

FEW MOTOR-CARS YET REGISTERED RUSH LIKELY AT END OF MONTH

In the week since June 2, when the relicensing of motor-vehicles began at the Invercargill Chief Post Office, only 170 were dealt with. More than 5500 vehicles are on the register at Invercargill and the officials expect that if motorists delay in relicensing their vehicles there will be considerable congestion at the Post Office towards the end of the month. The actual process of relicensing is more complicated than before, as owners are required to furnish a return of tyres, other than those on the vehicles, in their possession, whether new, retreaded or used. They also have to produce unused petrol coupons to be date-stamped. The officials state that many private car owners are waiting for definite information about future petrol supplies before relicensing their cars. There is a substantial number, however, who are receiving allowances in addition to coupon petrol, and it is expected that they will relicense their cars whatever the supply available for private cars. Probably three-fifths of the owners in the district are in that position, and the officials consider that they have no reason to delay registration. Because of the absence on military service of many experienced clerks who usually handle motor registrations, female clerks, will be called into that department when the rush begins. Because such clerks have not previously had experience in that branch, the authorities hope that there will not be too great a rush at the end of the month.

STATEMENT WANTED

(p.A.) DUNEDIN, June 8. The hope that the Government would shortly issue a definite statement on the rationing of tyres and petrol, particularly the latter, so that motorists would know whether or not it was worth while registering their cars was expressed by the president, Mr P. W. Breen, at tonight’s meeting of the committee of the Automobile Association (Otago). The committee endorsed Mr Breen’s statement.