KERBSIDE PETROL PUMPS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 149, 23 March 1928, Page 10

KERBSIDE PETROL PUMPS

— _ 4- — ARE , THEY A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC? At the meeting of the City Council last night, the By-laws Committee recommended that the application of the Bell Bus Compativ for an additional kerbside bowser pump at Thorndon Quay be approved, 1 subject to compliance with the usual terms and conditions. Also that in future the owners of kerbside bowser pumps be required to lodge with the; council an insurance policy indemnifying the corporation against the results of any accident or loss sustained to either life or property in connection with these pumps erected on the public highways, provided the citv solicitor concurred. Councillor R. Semple said he wanted to protest against the recommendation, as he had done against similar recommendations in the past. They were not onlv unsightly, but a danger to the people. Now there was a candid confession of the danger, or the committee would not ask for an insurance policy indemnifying the council against the results of anv accidents. He thought the council should seriously consider pulling down bowser pumps on the footpaths, as there were plenty of service stations in existence. In the interests of public safety and town-planning the council should not agree to this proposal. Councillor R. McKeen: T take it that if the citv solicitor does not concur it will not be put into effect. Councillor C. T. A. Hislop said the council allowed the pumps to be, nlaced there because they were a convenience to the public, but if thev constituted a danger the position should be carefully considered. I'he approval of the application should be deferred until the citv solicitor could tell them whether the further recommendation on the subject of insrirn’-ce had -inv value. Councillor Al F. Lnckic, chairman of the committee, said no complaints had reached the committee from the public in regard to these punins, and the recommenda+ion me*-H v aro c e out ot the c-nmneer’s report 'there was just ns much danger if colliding with a telegraph pole. Councillor Semple moved that the first of the two ebuses be referred bar'-, which was seconder! bv Councillor G. Mitchell, but was defeated, and the committee’s recommendation was carried. . The second recommendation, in reference to insurance. was. on rhe motion of Councillor Hislop, referred back.