FUELLING ARGUMENTS

ARGUMENTS about people selfishly monopolising fuel at times when supply is short are hardly a new phenomenon.

Photographs of people filling multiple jerrycans in the past couple of days have sparked widespread anger.

But this report from the

on Saturday, August 19, 1916 – in the middle of the First World War – shows how West farmers were equally aghast at fuel use by private citizens at a time of the nation’s greatest need.

A largely-attended meeting of farmers was held after the Devizes Market on Thursday for the purpose of protesting against the supply of petrol to farmers for agricultural purposes.

Arthur Straiton (President of the Board of the National Farmers’ Union) was in the chair, and was supported by representatives of the South Wilts’ Chamber of Agriculture, the Swindon branch N.U.F. and the Wilts, Somerset, and Dorset Farmers’ Association.

The President, in a vigorous address, said the farmers, as a body, had made claims for just as much petrol as they could manage upon, but they had been cut down by more than half. Protested very strongly at the ‘joy rides’ by motor char-abancs which they saw taking place daily, and the waste of petrol in other directions. Several speakers gave concrete cases in which they would have to reduce their herds because they could not get petrol to drive the milking machines. It was impossible to milk the cows alternately by machine and hand labour. A resolution asking the Government for priority orders for petrol for purely agricultural purposes was unanimously carried, and ordered to be sent on to the proper authorities.