LIMIT ON PETROL PUMPS IS URGED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 31 March 1931, Page 14

LIMIT ON PETROL PUMPS IS URGED.

CRITICISM AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING. The applications of five petrol station, proprietors for permission to make additions to their pumps met with some strong criticism when the 9yLaws Committee’s report was being discussed at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last night. I- object to the proposal,” said Councillor L. B. Neale. “There are too many of these ugly spots. This means . five additions to present stations. Some limit should be placed upon them.” Councillor E. R. M’Combs: We have made. a t fuss about posters. There is sonie’art about posters. Artists create them, and they are real works of art. But •we allow people to start a business in selling petrol without making any attempt to regulate them or the they take. If I didn’t know this-country T would think I was in Italy. (Laughter.) The owners of the properties are allowed to put up these stark pumps, painted in most glaring colours. . -In America they are regulated, and some of 1 ; them are real oases —beauty spots.” “ Oasis is right,” said a councillor, amid laughter. “They are.” insisted Councillor M’Combs. . “I am not going to vote against this particular one, but I do urge supervision in future. Competition end Price.” Councillor 11. T. J. Thacker said that the competition among petrol station owners should produce a cheapening <?f the price of petrol. Some investigation ought to be made into the prices which were charged. A supervisor should be appointed to control these stations. Councillor T. W. Butterfield said that the city was more than amply supplied with petrol stations at present. Councillor E. H. Andrews, chairman of- the By-Laws Committee, said that the committee wished that the number of stations could be reduced. The position Was that the ' sale of petrol was a business and the council had no power to stop a man starting in business. He believed, that the station owners were overdoing it, but the council had no power to - stop them starting in * business. The only control that the council had was over the type of building, and to ensure that the installation complied with the Dangerous Goods Act. Councillor Parlan.e rose, but the Mayor ruled him out of order after Councillor Andrews had replied to the criticism. The By-Laws Committee’s recommendation that the applications should be granted was carried, Councillor Thacker being the only dissentient.