RETAIL SALE OF PETROL

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26529, 18 September 1951, Page 3

RETAIL SALE OF PETROL

ONE-BRAND STATION SCHEME

AUSTRALIAN REPORT “ MISLEADING ” “The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON, September 17. Mr R. J. Worssam, resident director of the Vacuum Oil Company, returned to Wellington at the week-end after spending 10 days conferring with officials of the Vacuum organisation in Australia. Asked to comment on the plan for the establishment of “onebrand” service stations in Australia, Mr Worssam said: “Vacuum in Australia has made considerable progress with its plans to co-operate with service station proprietors who will market only its brand of petrol. Already several hundred service stations have signed up under the Vacuum banner and nothing can now hamper the success of the scheme. I understand that the other companies which have adopted this plan are also making excellent progress. “From the original announcement of the plan. Vacuum made it clear that the independence of the reseller would be in no way affected and that the company would continue to supply those stations still operating under the old arrangements as long as the gallonage sold through our pumps made deliveries to such stations an economic proposition. "The Australian report (printed yesterday) of a statement made by the general secretary of the Service Station Association is misleading. It implies that, because some of the companies are agreeing to supply stations selling multiple brands the ‘one-brand’ scheme is breaking down. “I can say most emphatically that the Vacuum Oil Company in Australia is most encouraged by the ready acceptance of the ’one-brand’ plan by resellers throughout the country. Any opposition to the plan comes largely from those who fail to appreciate that it will mean tangible benefits for the motorist and the service station proprietor as well as economies for the companies concerned,” said Mr Worssam.