PETROL PUMP STATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 11 February 1926, Page 11

PETROL PUMP STATIONS

a complaint; Although the method of obtaining petrol i supplies from the various pump Btations situated about the city has proved satisfactory to most motorists, there is at least one who has had some cause for complaint, and he, states his grievance in a letter which he has addressed to "The Post": "Now that the big oil concerns have brought in the bulk system of distribution of motor spirit," he states, "it seems to this writer that' some method should be ■ adopted of assuring motorists that they are getting what they are paying for. Personally, I invariably use the spirit direct from the tins—the brand does not matter here —but I had occasion recently to obtain a supply from a local Bowser pump, and one experience of this kind is enough for me. Not only did I get small measure, which I proved to my own satisfaction at least, but the stuff that was put in my tank was certainly not 'motor spirit' My car refused to start in the morning, and even when the engine was warmed up I could only get a maximum of 15 miles per hour, with throttle wide open. Needless to say, I drained my tank of the Bowser supplied stuff, and filled ' up with spirit, which immediately overcame the trouble. A motorist ia ,at the mercy of an unscrupulous garage proprietor, and for the peace of 1 mind and protection of motorists gener--1 ally some system of assuring to the purchaser that he is getting what he 1 is paying for should be adopted. Personally I intend to stick to the (tin--1 ned spirit, in view of my recent experience, and will do so until I can 1 be sure that I am not paying for four 1 gallons of motor spirit and receiving three and a half gallons of kerosene • and water." The letter was referred to the manager of a large city garage, i and some surprise was expressed that ■ there has been cause for complaint. It 1 was pointed out that the pomp stations . were inspected twice a year by Go- ■ vernmcnt officials, and they were sealed i in such a way that in order to readjust the pumps the garage proprietor would I have to break the seals. This would ' lay him open to the necessity of an- ] swering awkward questions on the occasion of the next visit by the inspeci tor, and, in the absence of a satisfac- ) tory explanation, perhaps a prosecution. It was stated, further, that in 1 future the big oil concerns intended to take over the control of the pumps, and absolutely guarantee the quality of the petrol supplied. The tanks would be filled by the companies, which would retain possession of the keys. This should prove satisfactory to motorists ! as well as to garage proprietors.