PETROL STORAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4939, 15 February 1926, Page 4

PETROL STORAGE.

INSTALLATION OF PUMPS. T.WO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. The matter of .the installation of tanks and pumps for the storage and supply of petrol was brought before the Paeroa, Borough Council at its meeting on Thursday night by an Auckland agency for an oil, company writing and asking for particulars and regulations in connection with the erection of motor .spirit kerbside tanks and pumps, and also any bylaws in connection with buildings. The office of the chief inspector of explosives. Department of Internal Affairs, also wrote in connection with the matter .as follows :—

“The importation of! petrol ill bulk instead of in tins and. cases, which is now being undertaken by oil companies, involves a radical change in the method of storage and handling of petrol, and I ajn, therefore, writing to put the position, clearly before your council . “The department is very- strongly in favour of. underground tank storage of petrol, since this is by far the safest method. Experience has shown that a fire can occur in the! building under which the tank is placed without any risk of causing either fire or explosion in the petrol tank. The bulk handling of petrol, moreover, enables economies, to be made in storage and transport, and it is therefore possible to sell it at a lower rate than cased petrol.

“The distribution of petrol in bulk will net only reduce ’tyhe storage hazard in the garages, but since the petrol will be both cheaper and more conveniently obtained, by the consumer from the petrol pump there will be much less inducement .to store in private houses and under improper conditions, and 'the storage hazard in the town will, therefore, be considerably reduced.

, “The use of motor vehicles has novV become so much a matter of trade necessity that the provision of adequate facilities for petrol supply must be given attention. I would therefore ask your council to give sympathetic consideration to any applications made for permission to erect kerbside pumps.

“ Lt should be no’tjed that tanlqs supplying these pumps will be filled' under complete seal by hosie connection from either tank waggon or barrel, and the hazard of filling from the kerb, which is how considerable, will be reduced to a minimum. The delivery of petrol into the tank of a motor-car will be by hose from the pump, and will not only be quicker, and therefore involve less waiting time for the motor at the kerb, but will, also be safer, since .the petrol is delivered by hose practically under seal.

“One of the principal objections raised in the past by .the consumer to the purchase of petrol from underground tank storage has been that there was. no guarantee as to , the quality of the petrol delivered from the pump, and, in fact, it was the practice of unprincipled dealers to mix cheaper grades of petrol with the quality supposed to be supplied. This objection hats' now been overcome by the fact that the oil companies, are taking over control of the underground tanks and holding .the keys of the latter. They propose to place on the pump standard a statement guaranteeing the nature of! the. petrol delivered. The department is, cordially in agreement with, this policy, and it is hoped that local authorities will not take any exception to the erection of the necessary placards.

“Application may be made '.tjo place the tanks under the footpaths. Most local authorities object to this owing to the fact that as the town grows the tank may interfere with t,he laying of gas, water, and other services.. There is little difficulty, however to be apprehended from ,the two pipes (filling pipe for the tank and supply pipe for the pump) which have to be carried across the footpath for the kerbside pump. The pipes are usually about Ift below 1 the surface, and, therefore, not in the way of. the service pipes, which .are usually placed at a greater depth. “It is a matter of policy for local authorities whether kerbside pumps will be allowed in certain streets, but, as stated above, there is less traffic congestion likely to result from these pumps than is the case under the present method of filling motor-car tanks from cans.”

” Two local ga.rage proprietors applied for permission to inatal benzine. pumps in a position on the foot-

path to be approved of. by the council.

The correspondence was taken together.

The Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) said that it opened up a big question, and he was not in a position to -make a statement as to the a.dvisabilitjy or otherwise of granting the applications, Cr. Brenan Baid that there was an argument in favour of the installations on streets, but he submitted that the requirements, and safeguarding of pedestrians should be the council’s first acre. He wore s, aw little difficulty first care. He foresaw little difficulty in erecting such tanks, and, if regulations were observed, the risk of crossing streets would be minimised.

Several councillors spoke in favour of the system.

It was agreed to inform the company that the council's regulations were similar to those gazetted, by the department.

Lt was resolved to grant tjhe applications, of the two garages; subject to observance of regulations and the work being carried out to the satisfaction of the works committee.

Cr. Flatt thought a menace might be created if the town grew in size and a number of applications were received for installations in the main street.

, Cr. Hare said he understood thaj the oil company would grant only a limited number in each town.