NAIROBI NEWS: “PETROL SHORTAGE!”
NOTE: The Leopard’s Prey is NOW available in hardcover AND the cover is now an online puzzle. Go to http://www.allstarpuzzles.com/picture/index.html and click on “It’s A Mystery” (if you are reading this as an archived article and the puzzle title doesn’t show, then it has been archived. Go to the bottom of that page and click on puzzle 2221)
In Jade’s latest mystery adventure, The Leopard’s Prey, Nairobi is having a petrol shortage. The East African Standard, another Nairobi newspaper, reported on this on March 27, 1920. The “Honorable Secretary of the East African Automobile Association” spoke on the problem. He said that the Provincial Commissioner of Nairobi predicted the shortage would become worse with “still more drastic” regulations next month.
In fact, “no one living within three miles of the centre of Nairobi will have any petrol issued to him at all.” Apparently such people were expected to take the rickshaws, walk, or bicycle to their businesses and clubs.
People living outside of the three mile zone would receive: “motor cars – one case. Motor cycles – one tin.”
Garages and industrial users of petrol would receive an allotment according to their “absolute urgency.”
NEXT WEEK: A Kikuyu Murder
NOTE: These blogs are meant to give some insight into the life and times of my fictional character, Jade del Cameron. Jade’s mystery adventures take place in post WWI Africa. To date they are: Mark of the Lion, Stalking Ivory, and The Serpent’s Daughter, all available in trade paperback.. The fourth book The Leopard’s Prey, IS available in hardcover. For more information, visit the website: www.suzannearruda.com and follow short updates on http://twitter.com/SuzanneArruda
In Jade’s latest mystery adventure, The Leopard’s Prey, Nairobi is having a petrol shortage. The East African Standard, another Nairobi newspaper, reported on this on March 27, 1920. The “Honorable Secretary of the East African Automobile Association” spoke on the problem. He said that the Provincial Commissioner of Nairobi predicted the shortage would become worse with “still more drastic” regulations next month.
In fact, “no one living within three miles of the centre of Nairobi will have any petrol issued to him at all.” Apparently such people were expected to take the rickshaws, walk, or bicycle to their businesses and clubs.
People living outside of the three mile zone would receive: “motor cars – one case. Motor cycles – one tin.”
Garages and industrial users of petrol would receive an allotment according to their “absolute urgency.”
NEXT WEEK: A Kikuyu Murder
NOTE: These blogs are meant to give some insight into the life and times of my fictional character, Jade del Cameron. Jade’s mystery adventures take place in post WWI Africa. To date they are: Mark of the Lion, Stalking Ivory, and The Serpent’s Daughter, all available in trade paperback.. The fourth book The Leopard’s Prey, IS available in hardcover. For more information, visit the website: www.suzannearruda.com and follow short updates on http://twitter.com/SuzanneArruda
Labels: 1920, Fuel Shortage, Jade del Cameron, Nairobi, Petrol, Rationing, The East African Standard, The Leopard's Prey
posted by Suzanne Arruda | 7:24 AM
2 Comments:
Is this shortage a shipping issue or demand exceeding supply?
That was never very clear. I read one article that said the demands were exceeding what was being pumped/refined (not much at that time) plus there was a shipping problem to the colony. Combination of both. Took nearly a year to resolve. (Suzanne Arruda)
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