asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware of the difficulties which confront agricultural tractor owners situated in districts remote from towns in obtaining petrol for starting purposes, as the petrol supply companies delivering tractor vaporising oil are precluded from selling petrol, and most rural pumps have ceased to operate; and if he will consider making the necessary arrangements to permit of such petrol deliveries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol for Agricultural Tractors.
Licences authorising the sale of motor spirit by retail have been issued by my Department to all dealers normally engaged in the business of selling motor spirit by retail. No unusual difficulty should, therefore, be experienced by tractor owners in receipt of small petrol allowances for the priming of tractors, who, it is presumed, have occasion to visit market towns for general supplies at frequent intervals.
Owing to the necessity for the maximum restriction of unnecessary road transport, I do not propose to request the oil distributing companies to consider the question of reducing the present minimum quantity of motor spirit which they deliver direct to consumers.