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Copy No.
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Sir Donnan Brok
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C.P.(49) 41
25TH FEBRUARY, 1949
CABINET
THE PETROL RATION
Memorandum by the Minister of Fuel and Power
Motorists are beginning to press for a substantial increase in the standard petrol ration for the next period (which runs from 1st June to 30th November). I am also informed that an organised campaign in support of this is shortly to be launched by the interests concerned.
2.
It will be much easier to counter the campaign if I can announce now the Government's decision on the ration whatever that decision may be. For, if no announcement is made, people think that pressure can move the Government and are much more likely to join in the agitation. If, on the other hand, they know we have made up cur minds there will be a tendency to accept the decision.
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I assume that we can at least maintain the present standard ration and that the question really is whether we can, and should, increase it, and, if so, by how much.
4.
increase:-
There are powerful arguments in favour of sane
(a) The standard ration is at present only one-third of
the 1947 basic ration, while most of the other cuts imposed at that time e.g. newsprint, films, foreign travel, etc., have by now been restored.
(76). Total petrol consumption by private cars is still
only about half of pre-war.
(c) It is important that we should retain the
(a)
(0)
good will of the motoring organisations. Though still friendly they have always had a grievance because over half the estimated savings in the first year from suppressing the black market were not given back to the private motorist. If no concession is made, relations are likely to become strained and the administration of petrol rationing will be made very much more difficult.
Stocks are now The supply position is easier.
270,000 tons more than a year ago.
The home tourist industry would benefit.