OIL BULK STORAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19697, 26 January 1926, Page 6

OIL BULK STORAGE.

PREMIER NEW ZEALAND INSTALLATION. OPENING CEREMONY. SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. (Fkom Otm Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 25. In Ihe course of a speech at the opening of the bulk installation of the British Imperial Oil Company (New Zealand) at Miramar to-day Mr Coates said: — •‘lt seems to me that it is desirable that we should create confidence in those who have capital in other parts qL-the world to come here, and that we should assure them that they will have a fair and square deal if they are prepared to meet the requirements of our Dominion. May I say that the British Imperial Oil Company has given us good sendee. Previous companies gave us excellent service too. So long as companies are prepared to give good service and at the right pnee—tho lowest price—(laughter) —with all the finer instincts we have in regard to our own people and nation, and with a determination 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. “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. Here wo have 150,000 motor vehicles of various kinds dependent entirely upon petrol for transportation, and that brings me to this point, that not only has the change from coal to oil—we may call it the on age for want of a better term—not ohTy > has that change brought about a revolution in the method of transportation, but it has presented many other problems for solution. Because I happen to be Minister of 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 we get down to the method of transportation that gives the best service to the community the better it will be. The transition stage is always the most difficult one. The otor vehicle in ail its forms has come to day, 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 shall be able to have a supply of petrol and of the various kinds of oil necessary for transportation, Wo shall have in this country a supply which will enable us to get over difficult periods. Wo do not anticipate difficult periods, but such periods oome most unexpectedly. Very often 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 we shall 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, 1 think they have done exactly what is right.” The Prime Minister added that the installation in Wellington was the premier installation in the Wellington delivery a The bulk spirit would be distributed by road wagons of varying capacities of from 600 to 'I2OO gallons each. Beyond that area motor spirit would be conveyed in ; ail tank cars to inland points where subsidiary depots were being established, and Bom there in turn the road tank wagon wojld again deliver in the immediate vicinity. This installation was the premier installation in the Dominion. smaller installations would Ixi established at Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Dunedin, Lyttelton, Bluff, Timaru, and Oamaru. These represented the receiving points and from them (here would be served the accessory inland depots with an efficient connecting system of rail cars. When completed the system wuold ultimately approximate 10 receiving ports with probably 40 inland points dependent on them. In the present installation arrangements were being made to store 5,000,000 vallons of motor spirit at one time, together with 4000 tons of kerosene and 8000 tons of liquid fuel. The company has invested ±IIOO,OOO in this installation.