STORAGE OF PETROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 10

STORAGE OF PETROL.

AN EXCESSIVE QUANTITY.

FINE AND CONFISCATION.

CHRISTCHURCH PROSECUHON

COURT SEQUEL TO A FIRE

[nt TELEGUArH.—OWN COTIBEPPONDENT. ]

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday

An aftermath of the recent petrol fire in Carlyle Street was heard in the Magistrate's Court this morning when two charges concerning excessive storage of petrol were preferred against tho South Island Trading Company. Fines of £5 were imposed in each case and petrol valued at £750, which was not stored in the store was confiscated.

Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench.. Mr. A. T. Donnelly, who appeared for the defendant company, entered pleas of guilty.

The charges against the company were:—(l) That being the holder of a licence to store dangerous goods they did store them to a greater extent than permitted by the licence. (2) That being the holder of a licence to store dangerous goods they did store them in a place other than that permitted by the licence.

Leslie Hardie, chief city inspector, said the case related to tho overstoring of petrol in the store in July last. 'I he amount of tho ov&rstorage was 11,000 cases. They were licenced to store 12,500 cases.

To Mr. Donnelly witness said that if an application for the storage of extra petrol had been made it would probably have been granted. Shipments Before Fire.

Mr. Donnelly: Is it a fact that the bulk of the excessive petrol arrived two or three days before the fire and that the difficulty was that three shipments of petrol arrived at Lyttelton for the company at the same time? —Yes. Mr. Donnelly: Is it fair to say that previously the company had strictly complied with /the regulations ?—Yes.

Witness added that he had investigated the storage a short time prior to the fire.

The Magistrate: Was there anything you would suggest that should have been done ?

Witness, said he should have been notified of the drums concerning which some provision could have been made. It was difficult to say about the case petrol. Mr. Donraelly: The company suffered a substantial loss above the insurances ? Yes, between. £4OOO and £SOOO. Mr. Donnelly: The authorities learned some valuable lessons from the fire. If the petrol had Jbeen stacked in accordance with the regulations and in the quantity allowed the cfisaster would hav6 been greater ?—Yes. Mr. Donnelly: The tightness of the packing greatly assisted? —Yes, it was undoubtedly this which enabled the firemen to get control of the fire. Hot Known to Management.

Mr. Donnelly, in addressing the Court, asked that the magistrate use his discretion as to the confiscation of the petrol. The fact that the overstorage was so great was not known to the management and if it had been Mr. Eardie would have been notified to see what could be done. The company had sustained a very substantial loss and he submitted that under the circumstances the Court might use its discretion. If the petrol was confiscated it would only mean a further penalty of £750. Mr. Hardie said that his instructions from the council were very definite in that he must ask for the confiscation of the petrol. The magistrate said that in view of the exceptionally excessivo quantity of petrol stored the Court could inflict a fine of £IOO on each charge. It was clear that the company had suffered a considerable loss, but it was the duty of the Court to protect the public and to see that a penalty was imposed. He considered that it was a proper course to confiscate the petrol and to inflict a fine of £5 in each case. The question as to whether, the petrol would be refunded to the company was a matter for the Minister of Internal Affairs. The confiscation order was made in respect to the second charge.