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TOPIC:
Re: International Harvester Aust manufacturing history 20 Feb 2011 22:57 #45910
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IHCA in WW2 .. cont. ...
On Oct 1, 1940, petrol rationing was introduced to Southern Australia. In fact, all liquid fuels were rationed, including diesel and power kerosene. This had four effects .. 1. A massive rush on fuel supplies just before rationing was introduced, and stockpiling of same. Within a short time, all civilian fuel supplies were nearly exhausted. The rumours driving the rush, was that there were to be extreme limits put on use, possibly as little as 2,000 miles a year .. and that fuel prices would skyrocket after the introduction of rationing. Neither of these rumours came true. The fuel rationing was not as severe as rumoured, and the Govt ended up putting price controls on nearly every single product, to prevent profiteering. 2. A serious reduction in useage of civilian vehicles. Some people even put their cars up on blocks for the duration of the war. 3. An increased demand for fuel efficiency and alternative fuels. Diesels were in demand, and many alternative fuels were produced, including alcohol. 4. An upsurge in gas producer design, production, and fitment. Many designs were tried, but bulkiness was problem. Some designers even produced trailer-mounted gas producers. Even IHCA got into the act, and made an announcement that they would soon produce their own gas producer, which could be ordered as an attachment, with any new International truck. However, new truck sales to civilians were soon restricted, too .. and the military and farmers got priority in that order. The military never ordered any gas producers, they had all the petrol they needed. Regardless, civilian demand for gas producers was high .. and then the price of charcoal soared, thus making charcoal production a good money spinner for the few civilians left, that were able to produce it. Fuel rationing was initially limited to the high population Southern cities. Eventually, by late 1941, fuel rationing was extended to all of Australia. The fuel rationing cut into both new and used vehicle sales. However, as new vehicles were in very limited supply, fuel rationing probably had only a modest effect on sales. Fuel rationing was initially based on an allowance of 4,000 miles (6,400 kms) a year for civilian cars. Other users, such as delivery vehicles, farm vehicles and buses were allowed a higher allowance. The allowance was cut again in early 1941 to an allowance of 3000 miles. Later on, in June 1941, the civilian petrol ration was cut once more, to an allowance of 2,000 miles a year. The fuel rationing system entailed a massive bureaucracy, and a mind-boggling set of rules and restrictions. Every vehicle and engine had to be registered and a fuel ration allocated to it. The Govt set up the Liquid Fuel Controls Board, with a division in every State. You had to apply to the Board for any variation in fuel requirements, such as additional harvest fuel requirements for a farmer, or for special trips. Fuel ration coupons were the subject of many laws, and punishment was heavy for any illegal fuel dealings. You were allowed to keep a 44 gallon (200 litre) drum of fuel for reserves, and ration coupons could be saved up for holiday trips. Australians (excluding the Military) used 30 million gallons of petrol a month before the start of WW2. By June 1941, this consumption figure had been reduced to 20 million gallons a month. The PM stated at that date, the figure had to be reduced further .. to 12 million gallons a month .. if the military was to get enough petrol, to fight the War unhindered. The Govt succeeded in their petrol-saving aims, and the petrol consumption of Australia stayed at 144 million gallons a year until the end of 1944, whereupon it started to creep up again, as people realised the War was coming to an end. Petrol rationing allowances were increased in Dec 1944, increased again in Dec 1947, and in February 1948. In June 1949, a legal challenge to petrol rationing saw the High Court rule that the rationing laws were invalid. Three months later, all States except Tasmania, re-introduced petrol rationing. It was finally abandoned altogether on February 9, 1950. Imports of cars and trucks, particularly from America, were the subject of import restriction quotas, as from May 1, 1940. At that date, the importation of civilian cars and trucks, and car imports were reduced by 24%, and trucks by 6%, by the quotas. Military vehicles were not included. There were two aims in this .. to increase available shipping space for military equipment .. and to save Australia's precious US dollar reserves, and to prevent a blowout in the balance of trade. Already, Australias debt to America was blowing out, as military demands increased for everything from tanks, to American machine tools. The Federal Council of the Chamber of Automotive Industries announced in August 1940, that from Sept 1, 1940 to June 1, 1941, a voluntary cessation of the imports of cars would be undertaken. This did not include firm orders already taken for vehicles, and the cessation agreement did not apply to trucks. By mid-1941, the vehicle situation was so serious, that the Military commenced to commandeer private vehicles .. particularly trucks. Military personnel would stop trucks in the street and question the driver, and then issue a commandeering order, if they determined the truck wasn't engaged on a vital task. This commandeering was supposed to be on a fair-minded approach, with only surplus or low-use vehicles being commandeered .. but many truck owners claimed that the Military were exceptionally harsh, and took single vehicles belonging to owner-operators. The Military usually only advised the truck owner to procure a used truck, to replace the one taken. However, used trucks were virtually unobtainable. In many cases, the owners often shut their business and joined the Military, as they often decided they had little choice, except the Military, as a source of income. The commandeering of trucks extended to all new trucks held by importers, dealers, distributors and agents .. good used trucks held by same .. but not trucks destined for the Military, or destined for contractors to the Military. For the Geelong plant, during WW2, assembly of International trucks to meet Australian Military orders, became quite a good portion of their business. Military and Govt orders were not tendered for, and all purchases by both Military and Govt were provided, at cost-plus prices. This price was actual cost, plus a margin, usually 10%. A similar situation was in place in America. 
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