PETROL REDUCTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 296, 16 December 1941, Page 6

PETROL REDUCTIONS

POLICY OF CONSERVATION STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF SUPPLY F’i »ss Aisn • Wellington. Dec 15. In a statement issued to-night, th? Hntj. D. G Sullivan. Minister of -**«pb amplified the statement he (made during the week-end relative to .the serious reductions which have allready bren put into effect regarding petrol allowances. The Ministei stated that in his announcement on Saturday it was made clear that petrol would not be made available until further notice for pleasure purposes, not for any purpax? which could not be regarded as absolutely essential in the public interest In order that the various • lasses of persons concerned would have some idea nf the new allowances likely to be granted to them, and with a view to preventing applications or appeals being lodged unnecessarily, the Minister stated that he proposed to outline the directions which had been issued for the guidance of local oil-fuel controllers in giving effect to reductions in consumption now required. < These are nn lines indicated in another article.—Editor* Motor vehicles engaged in (handling deliveries of foodstuffs and essential commodities, such as milk, bread, meat and coal, or concerned with essential public services such as electricity, gas and sanitation, would also have to hr very substantially reduced. An exception would lx* made in industries directly connected with the war effort where other means of transport are not available. With regard tn business cars. Mr Sullivan said that all ordinary and special petrol licences were being cancelled except those held by doctors veterinary surgeons, ambulances. fire brigades, nurses, police and traffic and vehicle inspectors. There would he some exceptions in cases where the usin»» was directly connected with the war effort and there were no • >ther means of transport available. In the case of ministers of religion there would ho the equivalent of a maximum allowance, in the meantime of ten gallons a month. I’ had also been decided that licences in respect of local body and Government vehicles should be reduced by one-third, and the same reduction was to he made on I’cences for the use of petrol other than in motor vehicles.

Appeals against the decisions made th accordance with the above directions may be lodged with local petrol advisory committees, though the Minister added that some delay in dealing with appeals would be inevitable owing tn the number which were being made. CARS BEING CHECKED ON ROADS ACTION IN VICTORIA • Reed 12.5 amJ Melbourne Dec. 15. The Victorian police have begun checking on motorists to ascertain whether they are using cars for purpnses other than those for which th°y are drawing rations Where it i> found that a motorist is using a business ration for pleasure his licence will be impounded Driving a car tn work i> regarded a* a pleasure purpose Windscreen stickers arc oping issued to people ! using cars for business purpose' These arc issued in grades indicating lhr importance of such work in thnational viewpoint. Police are being stationed at entrances to the city in the mornings checking the drivers.