PETROL SUPPLIES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6974, 4 October 1948, Page 4

PETROL SUPPLIES

IMPROVEMENT IN UNITED STATES EASING OF RESTRICTIONS ANTICIPATED “I believe we can look forward, with some confidence, to an easing in petrol restrictions as a result of the new world supply position,” said Mr W. R. Carey, president, at the annual meeting of the Automobile Association (Canterbury). Mr Carey referred to a report, with limited circulation, stating that a marked change had occurred in the United States recently. Accumulated stocks of petrol were outstripping storage capacity, he said, and the output of refineries had had to be curtailed. The dollar position might prohibit direct importation of petrol from the United States; but the affluent supply position there should reduce demands on sources from which New Zealand regularly drew stocks, Mr Carey said. The Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) had disputed claims by the Motor Unions that 4d of the petrol tax was imposed only for war-time purposes, Mr Carey said. This view was questioned.

Under the new system of highways finance, the equivelant of 9d a gallon had been secured for use on roa<^|y compared with 6d previously. This 7 approached motorists’ desires that all taxation revenue derived from them should be returned to the highways. Negotiations were in progress to have the minimum received by the Main Highways Board guaranteed under legislation.