asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware of the anxiety and misgiving caused to the owners of private motor lorries by the reports of his speech of October 12th, 1943, which indicated that the privately owned lorry may soon have to go the way of the privately owned car; and if he will now allay such anxiety by confirming previous official statements which stated that vehicles, the owners of which are at present in receipt of a petrol allowance, may continue to operate if fitted with producer gas plant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Running of Private Motor Lorries.
I do not believe that the statement made by me and quoted by the Deputy, if read in the context of my speech on October 12th, could have been misunderstood by owners of lorries fitted with gas producer equipment. The context of the speech concerned the increasing gravity of the petrol position and the reference was clearly to petrol-driven vehicles.
Fitting permits, allowing the fitting of gas producer plants to commercial goods vehicles, are issued by my Department in respect of vehicles which—(a) are of an unladen weight of one ton and upwards; or (b) are less than one ton unladen weight and engaged on essential services for which a petrol allowance (other than a priming allowance) is available; (c) are in a good state of repair, suitable for the fitting of gas producer plants, and in sound mechanical condition, a certificate to this effect being furnished by a qualified motor engineer; and (d) are used for the carriage of goods.
A priming allowance of two gallons of petrol per vehicle per month in respect of each commercial goods vehicle fitted with a gas producer plant is, on application, allowed to an owner of such a vehicle who is not otherwise in receipt of a petrol allowance for such vehicles.
The operation of motor vehicles complying with these conditions is allowed throughout the State without restriction.