BULK PETROL SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 11

BULK PETROL SUPPLY.

WELLINGTON INSTALLATION.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING, SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. IMPORTANCE TO DOMINION. IBY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , WELLINGTON. Monday. The official opening of the bulk installation of the British Imperial Oil Company (New Zealand), Limited, was performed at Miramar to-day by the Prime Minister Mr. Coates. The significance of the s:°n may be gathered from the fact that the company has laid down a number of bulk tanks, ranging from 2000 to 10,000 tons capacity, for the receipt of motor spirit, kerosene and liquid fuel from tank vessels and the subsequent packing into , tins antl casKi which themselves will be manufactured on the premises. In addition motor spirit will be distributed by tank motor-lorries which will deliver direct into bowsers by means of hoses Wellington is the pioneer city in the matter of bulk supplies but the whole of New Zealand will benefit by the distribution from this centre. On behalf of the visitors the Prime Minister thanked the company for the invitation that had been extended to them. " It seems to me," he said, " that it is desirable we should create confidence in those who have capital in other parts of the world to come hore, and that we should assure (hem they will have a fair and square deal if I hey are prepared to meet the requirements of our Dominion. May I say that the British Imperial Oil Company has given us good service. Previous .companies gave us excellent service too. bo long as companies are prepared to give good service and at the right price —tho lowest price (laughter)—with all the liner instincts we have in regard to our own people and nation, and with a determinat ion to assist that nation as far as practical business will allow us to do, and not eliminating other competitors at all, I think the people of New Zealand will readily assist in the carrying-on of industries of this description. Great Change in Transport.

"How few of us recognise the change that is taking place in connection with our ordinary life, affecting industry and affecting social conditions. I refer to the change that is taking place from coal to oil, a change that is having a great effect upon our Empire. I allude to the change first of all in regard to tho supply of oil and the machines we us<» in transport and in other ways. Tho competition of petrol and oil has brought about vast changes affecting transportation and industries of various kinds.

"In New Zealand we have about .150,000 motor vehicles of various kinds dependent entirely upon petrol for transportation. That brings me to this point, that not only has the change from coal to oil—we may call it the oil age for want of a better term—brought about a revolution in the method of transportation, but also it has presented many other problems for solution. Because I happen tor be Minister for Railways do not think for one moment that I take a restricted view in regard to the value of the motor vehicle in comparison with our railways. Nothing of the kind. The sooner wp get down to the method of transportation that gives the best service to the community the better it will be.

''Hie transition stage is always the most difficult one. The motor vehicle in all its forms has come t-o stay whether ■ it be driven by crude or purified petrols. It is the duty of the Government to see that every reasonable opportunity is provided for that vehicle to get consistent supplies of petrol. It is important for us to know that we will be able to have a supply of petrol and of the various kinds of oil necessary for transportation. We will have in this country a supply which will enable us to get over difficult periods. We do not anticipate difficult periods, but such periods come most unexpectedly very often ' The Importance ol Storage. "If we can store up supplies of petrol for from eight to 12 months, petrol and oils of various kinds necessary for transportation, it seems to me that wo will have made a very important step ahead, and if Government officials have been of use in this direction in giving information which is open to anybody I think they have done exactly what is right." Mr. Coatea said the installation in Wellington was the premier installation in the Wellington delivery area. The bulk spirit would be distributed by road waggons of varying capacities of from 600 to, 1200 gallons each. Beyond that area motor spirit would be conveyed in rail-tank cars to inland points, where subsidiary depots were being established and from there in turn the road tank-waggon would again deliver in the immediate vicinity. This installation was the premier inKtallation in the Dominion. Smaller installations would be established at Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui. Dunedin, Lyttelton, Bluff, Timaru, and Oamaru. These represented the receiving points and from them there would be served the accessory inland depots with an efficient connecting system of rail cars. When completed the system would ultimately approximate 10 receiving ports with probably 40 inland points dependant on them. Mr. Coates remarked that in the present installation alone arrangements were being made to store 5,000,000 gallons of motor spirit at one time, together with 4000 tons of kerosene and 8000 tons of liquid fuel. Best Wishes for Success. After congratulating the management on the manner in which it had carried out the installation, the Prime Minister said: "I conclude by wishing your business every possible success, and in wishing you that, everyone present joins with me. While you have invested capital amounting to about £IOO,OOO in establishing this installation yon have done something which will be of value to our country, and 1 sincerely trust it will be of value to yourselves. "So far as the Government is concerned I simply desire to reiterate that we' -wish that there should bo a fair and op-en field for all those who like to come along. Show progress and give itf good service. I would like those present to give three hearty cheers and wish every possible success to the Imperial Oil Company, recognising that they have taken one step forward in regard to an industry which closely affects hundreds of thousands of people in our country." The assembled visitors responded by giving three hearty cheers. A luncheon followed. The "The King" was honoured, and on tho motion of Ivlr. Nicholson, representing the Imperial Oil Company, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Prime Minister.