THE PETROL MARKET.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13438, 8 June 1912, Page 6

THE PETROL MARKET.

NEW SOURCES OF SUPPLY

(Special to "Tho Colonist.")

Christohurch, Jun© 6.

The acutp stage of tho petrol famine j seems to have passed by. The position is not exactly normal, but there are sufficient supplies in hand to enable garages to supply their clients at the normal prico, viz., 13s. 4d. per case. The improvement was brought about by the importation of motor spirit from Australia. For instance,-somo firms have imported shell benzine from Australia. This spirit is made in Sumatra by a British company, which so far has only supplied Australia. Importations of the British Australian Company's Eadix Sanarit, manufactured in Australia, aro also being made. It is stated in trade circles that both the Sumatra and tho Australian motor spirits could find a ready market in New Zealand at any time, and that there is a probability of the companies concerned extending their operations to include New Zealand. The Dominion so far has been entirely dependent on the Vacuum Oil Company, and the trade is naturally anxious to Jiavo a second string to its bow. One garage owner stated that in the event of there being another shortage supplies could bo got from Australia within a week. A shortage of the sort that had just been experienced could not occur in New Zealand again. 'He had just landed 100 cases of the Sumatra spirit, and 100 cases of the Australian spirit. It is said that some of the speculators who bought up the petrol supplies to sell at fancy prices are being left with their goods on their hands. They are not likely to receive much sympathy from the trade, as the garage owners have had to pay fairly high prices themselves to secure supplies. One confessed to a "Press" reporter that during tho acuto sta<je of tlie famine ho had paid as much as 25s per case for petrol, but he had held out against the fancy prices asked by speculative holders. Tho shortago, in his opinion, was not yet over, but so far as ho could see there was no probability of the normal prico being exceeded for small supplies.