PETROL SHORTAGE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8362, 28 July 1920, Page 3

PETROL SHORTAGE.

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRY AND THE EXPERTS.

Regarding certain statements made in the House of Representatives last week as to the petrol shortage, especially in the Taranaki and South Auckland districts, and the comparatively better position in Australia than that existing in New Zealand, a “New Zealand Times” representative was informed that the allegations made in the House were not

correct, and that the position so far as .the Dominion was concerned was not nearly so serious as was represented. ANGLO-PERSIAN COMPANY.

With regard to the suggestion of Dr. Newman, M.P., for securing supplies of oil from the Anglo-Persian Company, it was explained that that concern was under contract to supply their output of petroleum spirits to the Shell Company in Great Britain until 1922, and (judging from.recent press reports from Australia) the opinion was expressed that it was doubtful whether any benefit would accrue to Australia in granting a monopoly to that concern, in view of the other increasing demands for petrol in all parts of the world. The suggestion that there was plenty of oil in Australia was contrary to fact, as Australia had experienced a far more acute shortage of petrol than the Dominion, and the shortage was by no means overcome. It was also incoryect to state that Australia was importing the crude oil and refining it in the Commonwealth. There had been a lot of talk about refining it in A astralia, but these plans were not 1 : j;ely to mature for the next two or three years. All things considered, New Zealand was less restricted in the use of petrol than any other country in the world. Even in America, in many places, motorists were being limited to a maximum quantity of five gallons at a time.

With reference to the statement made as to the petrol shortage in Taranaki, it was stated in reply that Taranaki was better provided with petrol than any other province in the Dominion. During the past fortnight it had received three oversea shipments of petroleum spirits amounting to over 30,000 cases, besides heavy transhipments from Wellington, and these should be ample to meet the requirements of Taranaki for some considerable time.