PETROL RATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21184, 6 August 1940, Page 8

PETROL RATION

AUSTRALIAN SCHEME PRIVATE CAR ALLOWANCE MILEAGE RANGE AS BASIS Private motorists in Australia will be limited to a mileage of 40 a week under the petrol rationing scheme, details of which were announced by the Minister for Supply, Sir Frederick Stewart, on July 11, and which, it is believed, will come into operation on September 1. For private vehicles the annual mileage range is 2000 miles and for commercial vehicles from 2500 to 15,000 miles. The scales that have been adopted will be subject to adjustment in the light of experience, or if there is any alteration in the overseas situation. To allocate rationing scales, road vehicles have been divided into two categories—private cars and commercial vehicles under 30cwt capacity, and commercial vehicles of 30cwt capacity and more. Each of these categories has been father subdivided according to the type of use to which the vehicle is put, and the ration is allotted accordingly. Rationing scales have been fixed with the intention of allowing each class of vehicle equivalent mileage. Vehicles Classified Private cars and vehicles under 30 cwt capacity have been divided into the following five classes, according to their use: (1) Private; (2) 50 per cent business use and under; (3) over 50 per cent business use; (4) business wholly; (5) special business. Motor-cycles will be rationed as for cars up to 8 horse-power. The allowance for private vehicles used in business will not cover travelling between residence and place of business. Following the British system, such travelling will form part of the uses of the basic ration. The special business classification will be approved only in cases where large mileages are run in the ordinary course of business. This classification will apply to a limited class of users whose business carries them into outback areas, and who at present average between 25,000 and 30,000 miles a year. Farm Allowances For commercial vehicles (30cwt capacity and more) seven classifications have been made with varying rations, according to capacity within the class. The classes are: Farm vehicles (2500 miles a year). Farm vehicles where special consideration exists to justify the extra quantity (3500 miles). Suburban retail delivery; country users carrying own goods; retail delivery in country (5000 miles). Urban retail delivery; urban users carrying their own goods —wholesalers, factories, etc. (7500 miles). Hire and award carriers, city and country; tipping trucks, sand, metal, etc. (9000 miles). Heavy hire and award carriers, special carrying, etc. (12,000 miles). Cases not elsewhere included, for special consideration, the necessity for which must be established to the satisfaction of the State transport authority (15,000 miles).