L.P.G. appliances, leisure goods

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 27

L.P.G. appliances, leisure goods

Billens High Street, Ltd, — near A. J. Whites — used to be one of the biggest sellers of kerosene heaters, and the firm still sends wicks all over New Zealand. Now its principal, Mr Brian deLatour, is looking to liquid petroleum gas as “the coming thing.” “There is going to be an abundant supply of it, readily available, and it’s the best alternative to electricity,” he says, from the point of view of cleanness and cheapness. The firm has an extensive range of L.P. gas appliances — heaters, stoves, barbecues, ovens, cookers, gas rings and water heaters. In fact, the shop is a fascinating place to look round in. There is a huge variety of camping equipment, including many lamps and cookers.

There are commercial blow torches, “mainly for burning off paint,” and small furnaces — for melting lead, for example. There is experienced after-sales service and even a second-hand division. This has been in operation for about a year, and has a bewildering variety of goods in stock.

A random sampling included an L.P. gas iron, waders, padded jackets, pots

and pans and cutlery — even deck chairs. Mr deLatour says it is a particularly popular spot for American and Australian camping tourists, as everything is spotlessly clean, tested, and guaranteed to be in good working order at the time of sale. Travellers can buy the equipment they need, use it while travelling in New Zealand, and quite fre-

quently they sell it back to Billens before they leave.