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29
PETROLEUM ACTS, &c.
Since the coming into force of the Petroleum (Consolidation)
Act, 1928, which defined Petroleum Spirit as "Petroleum, which
when tested in a prescribed manner gives off an inflammable
vapour at a temperature of less than 73 deg. Fahrenheit," there
have been a number of fresh Regulations and Orders, namely : —
Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicles, &c.) Regulations
of 1929.
Petroleum (Carbide of Calcium) Order of 1929.
Petroleum Spirit (Conveyance) Regulations of 1932.
Cellulose Solutions Regulations of 1932.
The Petroleum (Transfer of Licences) Act, 1936, came into
operation in August, 1936, and enables a petroleum-spirit licence
to be transferred by endorsement of the licence or otherwise.
The quantity of petroleum stored under licence, apart from
quantities stored under proper conditions which do not necessitate
a licence, totals 97,218 gallons. 93,900 gallons is stored in
underground steel tanks and 3,318 gallons kept in properly scaled
two-gallon cans. The total number of licences issued is 80.
The Superintendent of the Fire Brigade is furnished with a
list of all annual renewals of licences and of new installations.
The premises licensed were inspected from time to time and
contraventions of the conditions attached to the licences dealt
with.
All plans relating to new petrol installations are submitted
to the Committee for their approval. The construction of new
installations has been carefully supervised and tanks and pipe
lines for bulk storage installations tested.
A noteworthy feature during the year has been the changeover
from hand-operated to electrically-operated petrol pumps.
The Borough Electrical Engineer is notified in every case so that
the wiring can be inspected.
There is a greater tendency to the spilling of petrol from
electrically operated pumps, owing to the operator's attention
being more intent on the dial than on the tank and nozzle,
and I have found it necessary to insist on adequate supplies of
sand near these pumps in addition to foam fire extinguishers
required by regulations.