6 NOVEMBER 1926, Page 3

*- On Monday the great petrol companies announced a reduction

in the retail prices of petrol. This was the beginning of a war—war declared by the combine, consisting of eight large firms, on the smaller independent companies. The independent companies immediately closed their ranks and reduced their prices so as to bring them below the combine prices. The offer by the combine of a bonus to those retailers who undertake to sell only combine petrol is the principal act of war. The combine is said to supply 80 per cent. of the petrol, but the smaller companies had apparently been gaining ground. And evidently they do not mean to go under without " knowing the reason why."