THE PRICE OF GAS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 28 July 1919, Page 6

THE PRICE OF GAS

■ Sir,—At last .night's meeting of the Wellington City Council, Councillor Chapman, in interring 10 the Hangahao - scheme, remarked iu respect to the increase in price of gas recently announced by the Wellington Gas Company, Limited, that although the electrical department was labouring under the same disabilities as the Gas Company it had not been found necessary to raise the pnc\ of current. . As Councillor Chapman is eviden. not very conversant with his subject, would like to point out that the disabilities of the Gas' Company, as compared with'the electrical department, are exceedingly important. Throughout the > time of the coal shortage tho tas Company, in order to maintain a gas supply to the city, was compelled to import regular shipments of coal from Australia, paying exceedingly high prices both for the coal and. freight; while in the case of the Wellington City Council most of the coal has been obtained within the Dominion, and consequently at a much lower cost. I also would like to point out. that the Gas Company suffers great disabilities aa compared with the councu 8 electrical undertaking, in that', it has to pay enormous charges for rates and taxes which the City Council altogether escapes. lor last vear the Gas Company will hare to ,pay the following charges-Land and income tax,'.£17,200; city and Miramnr rates, £1200; royalties-to the City Couna®. Secretary Wellington Gas Co., Ltd. July 20, 1919.