MOTOR SPIRIT

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12093, 21 March 1925, Page 14

MOTOR SPIRIT

TO BE TINNED IN DOMINION. How many motorists give a moment’s thought to the absolute waste inyolvsd in. the continual .discarding of empty petrol tinsp The loss of money in tins way was commented upoil by.“ir Robert Walev Cohen, managing director of the British .Imperial Oi! Company, in an interview with an Auckland “Star” representative. .‘•The nou-returnahle tin which is thrown away, is veiy expensive for the user of petrol,” states Sir Robert, “bat conditions in New Zealand are ’such that’ I am doubtful whether the i'eturnab'*c tin would be as convenient. The ideal method! is to abolish packages altogether and supply in bulk, as is universally done in America and largely in Britain.” The huge tank which the British Imperial Oil Company have erected in Wellington, was mentioned, Sir Robert Cohen stating that the motor spirit would be brought to Wellington in oil tankers. For the present the distribution of the spirit from Wellington would be in the ordinary non-return able tins, but one important change is involved, for Sir Robert Cohen hopes that these tins will be manufactured within the Dominion. If this object is realised there- will be a new industry created in the Dominion in the manufacture of the tins and the cases. 1

. “Does your firm propose to establish distributing centres throughout the Dominion?” asked the Pressman. “We have no intention of establishing retail service stations,” was the reply. “We want to make our motor spirit available everywhere in New Zealand, but our distributing depots will deal with the existing motor traders and stores, from whom the public will get their supplies. The moment conditions warrant it we shall establish a chain qf wholesale distributing facilities up and down the two islands. It will involve large capital expenditure, but I am satisfied the time is rapidly approaching when such a move will be justified. The first thing is to push on with the good .roads policy.” ‘ ‘Why should there he 6iuch a great, disparity between the price we pay for petrol- here and the price the Americans pay—9d or lid per gallon?” the reporter asked. “The price in -America is considerably more than that,” said l Sir Robert Oohen. “In any case, thp Americans use a poor quality of petrol, which is by no means economical when used in good’ maohinery. Another point to -emember is that five gallons in America only equals four Imperial gallons.” ,