A SURVEY OF SERVICE AND ORGANISATION.

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 12

A SURVEY OF SERVICE AND ORGANISATION.

V MURING the last two years D numerous articles have appeaTed in the newspapers throughout tho Dominion, I J vdealing 'with the operations •£s& . panics. In fact tho aceum*s>* . ulation of odd and vague re- ' 'I ports of proposed operations would appear to the layman most like Printer's Pie. It has been a "pot ponrH* of what has been, what may be, and what should be, and probably few "readers have been afforded any real-idea of the extent of the transformations .which have taken place or are planned.

Generally, the national importance of this Dominion-wide industry is recognised, and progress to date has Men so rapid that at this juncture we can afford ■x,-

That feature of the changed methods moat generally appreciated, is undoubtedly the creation of employment, and this item is no small one when the advantages of the introduction of the bulk scheme .are considered by thoso" not directly connected ■with it. During the last twelve months, the number of employees on the British Imperial Oil Company's pay roll has, of course, incieased heavily, and the numerical strength of the staff will steadily expand with tho development of the original plans. At the present time in the Wellington Territory alone the "Shell" Company has an. executive, selling find clerical staff of nearly 200 strong, whilst at tho Miramar Installation a staff of approximately 380 is maintained. In addition, of course, the Company is indirectly responsible for the employment of hundreds of others who are employed by firms acting as "Shell" agents in various districts.

Shipping Trade Benefits.

In every poit of the Dominion to-day coastal steamers may be seen flying a red flag indicating that they are loading or discharging motor spirit for distribution inland. Apart from the consignments carried in these steamers, •tho British Imperial Oil Company finds full-time employment for onj of its own ships, the Anamba, of 1835 tons gross register. This oil-burning steamer, which carries a crew on the New Zealand manning scale at Dominion rates of wages, is constantly taking full cargoes of motor spirit and'oils in drums and cases from Miramar 'for distribution at various . coastal ports. It is probable that at'some future time the Anamba will be supplemented by a coastal tanker for carrying bulk motor spirit and fuel oil to waterside installations. „■■■

Road and Kail Distribution. For road transport purposes, the

our leaders, in .this one article, an inteiesting summary of proceedings. This is possible as development has reached such a stige that'we may now, write ac-. cording-' to "'accomplishment and not merely.ideals, taking, as a guide the operations, of the Company responsible for the inauguration of modernised marketing, methods.

1 Probably' few of our readers arc aware that New Zealand, although a comparatively young country, is tho' second largest user per head of motor transport in the.world, there being here ono car to every twelve persons.

.Whilst 'the bulk system of distribution of ;O.ils;i3 : yet in its infancy so far as New ;Zeaiand is concerned, such a scheme 'Has been: successfully operated iin Australia for many yeaTS. '

Tha British Imperial Oil Company, more generally known as the " Shell V Company, introduced the change in marketing .policy-in Australia, and have likewise led the -wayin New Zealand* Considering the growth and the ever increasing prosperity of the motor in-

The industry is of national importance,, and the introduction of the bulk scheme is ono of the greatest steps yet taken towards the facilitation of economical and modern motor transport- in* this country. . Dominion-wide Organisation. A "Post" representative was last ■week afforded an opportunity of investigating the scope of the British Imperial Oil Company's system of bulk distribution, of which they are the pioneers. The bulk system was inau-

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dustry here, their invasion of New Zea-. land with more modern and economical mothodaof importation and distribution of motor' fuel is by no means- premature. • ' . -,'.■■■•:' Thei? .expenditure in carrying into effect such a huge undertaking.has,- it must be appreciated, been remarkable. New Zealand ha 3of late benefited'by the establishment of more than one new industry;, but the benefits aeruing from the 'creation of- these industries have been localised especially in so far as. constructional activity and general employment' aieconcerned.The Company's plans call for the acquisition of land for constructional purposes from North Cape to Bluff/ inland country towns of any sig-

gurated only 12 months ago, the anniversary of the official opening of the installation at Miramar occurring on January 25, when the opening ceremony was conducted by the , Prime Minister, the Eight Hon. J. G-. Coates. The first year's operation of this plant has revolutionised tho handling and transport of the Dominion's petroleum, spirit and oil supplies. Wellington for some years has been the premier oil port of the Dominion, and, apart altogether.. from the bunkering of oil-burning ships, is reaping rapidly increasing, pecuniary and other benefits from tho establishment of the "Shell" works at Miramar, which aro only a part of a greater scheme of service designed to cover the

nificance benefiting proportionately in a similar way to the larger coastal towns, where somewhat larger installations aro being provided.

A representative of this paper last Week visited the "Shell" Company's Miramar installation, an& also attended the picnic of the combined staffs of the British. Imperial Oil Company, and their selling agents in New Zealand, Messrs. Oollin and Company, and was amazed at the extensiveness of tho Company's organisation. ,

There are probably various branches of this industry which the "man. in the street" does not know exist, and possibly this fact can be attributed to the infancy of the industry, the establishment of which, is of material benefit to the Dominion as a whole.

"Shell" Company maintains a largo fleet of tank lorries. :,.■'•" . ■

• These comprise several largo siswheeled motor-wagons with a tankage capacity exceeding .2000 ' gallons, also a large number of bulk motor-lorries with a carrying capacity varying from GOO to 1250 gallons. The latter, aro. used to replenish supplies of the numerouakerbside pumps which have becomo a remarkablo foature o.f bulk" distribution of motor spirit throughout New Zealand.

This British. Imperial Oil Company is a gooS customer of -the Railway Department, ana pays' substantial ; sums 1 in freight for the carriage of bulk'spirit by rail. . This, has been .made possible by the construction of large tanks capable of holding 6000 gallons. The railway tanks, which are filled' from the Miramar installation; by means of bulk motor-lorries, transport the spirit to the smaller'railhead depots.' In addition to the tank. waggons, the British Imperial 'Oil Company maintains a .very; largo .fleet of ordinary motor lorries- for the carriage of motor spirit.and kerosene. ' Those are kept fully employed at Wellington in delivering consignments of bulk drums and cases from Miramar to-the Anamba and other coastal ships, and returning empties "to the works. The"8.1.0." lorry traffic between the installation and Miramar Wharf and the main waterfront is surprisingly largo in volume. Staff Organisation. So far only the- material^ side of the British Imperial Oil Company's organisation -for' bulk" distribution has been dealt with: The staff controlling and working the- vast system throughout tho Wellington territory—not to mention the.other districts which cover' the wholb Dominion—is necessarily a very large one. Efficiency' and loyal co-operation.are the watchwords of the staff, and the machinery works with the utmost .smoothness. At head office ' in Wellmgton aro tho main executive departments, including managerial, engineering, chemistry,' stocks and shipping, sales, and advertising. The Study of Efficiency. j It is particularly interesting to note that all the salesmen and branch man--"gars in the 'British Imperial Oil Company's service are required to undergo a course of instruction, and an-exami-nation on the constituent properties of ji he various kinds-of motor spirits and mineral- oils handled and their suitability for the many'different typss of ongines in which they ate used. Thus '.very local manager--and salesman is fully qualified to'give'customers and consumers the benefits of tha .Shell Company's unrivalled' chemical research department. " " Eapidly-growing Industry. Such is a bare outline of the organisation which tho British.' Imperial Oil Company has built up. in New Zealand ior the economical and -efficient handling on up-to-date lines of bulk distri- ; bution of motor spirit and oils. Its inauguration last year marked the opening of a new era in industrial dove-lop- ' mont. The industry is still in its infancy, but it is a lusty and rapidly- ; growing infant; ■ ■

whole Dominion. Waterside Tank Installation. Waterside tank storage installations have been opened at Auckland, Timaru, and Bluff, and similar depots are being constructed .at other sea-ports, including Napier, Dunedin, New Plymouth, and Lyttelton. In addition to these, installations at inland country depots are being established throughout the Dominion, . and at each of these there are, or shortly will be, bulk tankage accommodation from which supplies will be drawn for the waterside depots. At these inland country depots, underground tank storage accommodation is being provided.