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The Oil Controller
For some time now, May has been considered Motorcycle Awareness Month. It’s when motorcyclists start pulling their bikes out of winter storage in earnest and is consequently a good point on the calendar to remind the general populace they have to share the road with two-wheelers. Now, we can’t just go out there and bump a few heads or rev up those loud pipes and expect everyone to listen. No, we must do it in a more civil manner such as getting media attention in our local newspapers or radio stations. Here on the west coast we have the BC Coalition of Motorcycles lobbying government or staging awareness events such as the annual MLA ride in Victoria in May. BCCOM’s activism has been instrumental in getting that message out to the public.
Whatever you do to raise public awareness, try to put a positive spin on it because we all want the summer season to be trouble free, including June, which has been officially designated as Ride to Work month.
Of course, getting fuel might be a problem. In Ontario, for example, there have been reports of some stations actually running out of gas. When one province has supply problems, we all pay. With fuel prices now over the dollar per litre mark, I was almost in shock at the cost to fill my motorcycle. But to think that some filling stations might have to close because their pumps are dry, you have to wonder just what this summer is going to bring.
Then in walked Bill Wellbourn, who produces our line of Canadian Biker wear: T-shirts, hats etc. He had with him a 1944-45 era “Gasoline Licence and Ration Coupon Book” that he found at a garage sale 20 years ago. Rationing of fuel and other commodities for civilian use was introduced during the war to ensure adequate supplies for the military effort. The booklet had been originally issued to the holder of Victoria, BC licence plate number MC 762. With only one coupon missing, it was still in great shape, and Bill thought there might be a story to it.
But my first thought on the matter was, I hope they don’t start bringing this back into service. As I read through it I had a few laughs. The booklet was a federal initiative, sanctioned in Ottawa through the office of the “Oil Controller.” And whoever that was at the time must have had some real power.
The booklet says, “The owner of this motor vehicle bearing the provincial licence plate number imprinted on the cover of this book (having been registered for the purpose of gasoline control) IS HEREBY LICENCED to purchase graded gasoline for the use in the operation on such motor vehicle, subject to strict compliance with the following
CONDITIONS.”
I won’t go into all the conditions but there were 10 of them signed by the “Oil Controller for Canada.”
The conditions came with a warning: “Any person who is a party to any breach of the conditions of the above licence or any order of the Oil Controller is guilty of an offence and liable to the penalties provided by law.”
Now if we had an Oil Controller for the oil companies maybe we could get some answers as to how gas prices vary across Canada and why, if one station raises the price, they all seem to do it across town at the same time. I guess for the most part we are at war on a world level so prices won’t be coming down any time soon. But let’s enjoy the summer that’s now just around the corner and hope we can get through that gas shortage situation before the big rallies start in July.
Remember, keep your eyes on the road and on those drivers around you. Have a great May!
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