DRASTIC PETROL CUTS:

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1941, Page 6

DRASTIC PETROL CUTS:

MADE IN AUSTRALIA FIRST ITEM IN NEW POLICY., PRIVATE MOTORISTS CHIEFLY AFFECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CANBERRA. June 18. Tlie first major effect of Mr Menzies' speech on Australia's war policy was an announcement today by the Min-isic-r of Supply of drastic petrol cuts, chiefly affecting private motorists, whose present supply is being cut by half, limiting them to 1000 miles a year and becoming operative in August. Taxis and private hire cars will be further reduced to 40 per cent of the original rationing scale. Commercial vehicles will receive only CO per cent of the original ration. Omnibus and service cars will be cut by 15 per cent Corresponding reductions will apply to farm and miscellaneous classes of vehicles and motor-boats.

Motoring interests say the new rationing plan will sound the deathknell of private motoring. Trade union leaders expressed concern at Mr Menzies's “threatened coercive measures” against their leaders. The secretary of the New South Wales Labour Council. Mr R. King, voiced the opinion of most Labour officials when he said the Labour movement was not prepared to submit kindly to attacks on the liberty of trade unionists. He added that if workers displaced by industrial restriction were not absorbed it would be tantamount to industrial conscription.