The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-18
PEOPLE CALL
Continued From Page One)

gas on down TO 'ne q ''o''
oils u -
ANYTHING about it. It's something
the industry has got to do," SAID
Max Ball, director OF the In
terror Departments gas and oil
division.
He said the oil shortage per-
hans hit North Carolina earlier
and harder but there's scarcity
everywhere, and the state is in
about the same fix as the East
coast generally"
Companies Wired
The North Carolina Congress
men Immediately telegraphed
major oil. companies which
served North Carolina as fol-
lows:
eve would greatly appreciate
some statement from your COM
pany as to whether or not you
have any suggestion or can dc
anything to relieve the serious
fuel oil shortage in North Caro-
lima"
In a statement after the con.
ference the Congressman said:
''It is apparent there is nc
agency Of government empow-
cred to exercise control over
distribution of oil products by
the oil companies of the United
States" 1t is also clear that the
present consumption of oil is fa1
in excess Of production. 1t is ap-
parent desired relief (from
shortages within the state)
could and should be furnished
by the oil companies who have
heretofore supplied North Caro-
lima, coupled with the coopera-
ton on the part Of the people
to economic in the use of avail
able supplies.
Imports are Slightly above
our exports. If exports should
be cut off it would not relieve
the present situation.
''It was the expressed inten-
ton of the delegation to con-
tinue efforts in trying to allevi-
ate the present shortage of oil
in North Carolina.
Price Is Key
Rep. Deane (D-NC) told a re-
porter ''the price structure is
the key to bringing additional
supplies to North Carolina. Oil
sells in Texas for about the
same price it does in North Car
olina."
Parks Gwaltney, OF Durham,
president of the North Carolina
Oil Jobbers Association, told the
conference: 'prices are high
enough. The differential is to o
small between East coast and
the Gulf with fuel oil this week
selling for 81 cents a gallon in
Gulf ports and S.65 at Whining
ton, NC"
Rep. Redden (D-NC) asked
him eff ten or eleven cents
would get fuel oil, hadn't we bet
ter pay it," and Gwaltney re-
piled "if a mans freezing, he
doesn't ask the price of oil for
his fire. ..
Gwaltney said 200 new homes
in Durham, for instance, had
had no heat for the past five
days.
"They should have bought
coal stoves, perhaps. It's a criti-
cal situation," the oil dealer ad-
ded.
Don't Want Control
Gwaltnec said mo one in the
oil i: dus ry wants government
control, it would make rreate1
confusion," but the gov : lent
perhaps could help by max
ing available tank cars, ano
oils reported in storage at ports
like Norfolk, Wilmington anc
Charleston, and by limiting
tanks car hauls to $50 or zoe
miles.
| He said if enough oil came tc
North Carolina by way of tank.
ers or pipe lines, it would be
distributed to consumers. adj.
ding there is no transportation
problem within the state"
r aym ond S. McKeough
U.S.N. a member of the Mari.
time Commission, said tankers
the Congressman reported tiec
up at Wilmington will be re.
moved as an eyesore soon' be.
cause an order of last week al
lows sale of all tankers eve
have"
Arthur Gass, of the office Of
defense transportation, told the
group that taking tank cars OF
tankers from the army for ci-
Villains would "be at the sacri-
lice of trainipC of ,,,;.4;