HUTT GAS BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 4

HUTT GAS BOARD

EXTENDING ITS AREA

PROPOSAL.NOT ADOPTED

The question of extending the area of supply was discussed last evening at the meeting of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board, but members were not inclined to agree until the motion was presented. ,

Mr. D. W. Campbell said, he thought the time had 'come for extending the board's supply area. He moved tnat the board's solicitors be instructed to see if legislative enactments could be sought for extending the board's operations from five miles to twenty miles from the Petone Post Office.

"We would probably be asked if we were prepared to go ahead at once," commented the chairman (Mr., W. G. Lodder).

Mr. C. J. Ash ton said he was prepared to second the pro forma, although he did not altogether agree with i' The board's area at'present extended almost as far as Stokes Valley, and that included the land over which the Government had put a proclamation. If that land was settled the board would get all the territory it could look after for the next twenty years.

Mr. Campbell: .The Wellington Gas Company's area now extends as far as the Wellington Woollen Mills. .

Mr. J. dimming expressed the opinion that no harm would be done if the board's area was extended to Upper Hutt.

Mr. R. M. Russell said that extension to Eastbourne was the most important side. of the question. No other body could cut across the1 board's territory and supply gas there. It would cost the board between £20,000 and £25,000 in _ reticulation, and this capital outlay was too great for any return that could be obtained. The "dead", area at the Taila Gorge was too much for any concern that wished to extend up '■ the valley-. He was -inclined to believe there- was almost-room-- fo-r another works at Upper. Hutt. He thought the present sphere of operations quite enough. ■ ■ . '

,The motion was not supported when put to the vote, Mr. Russell commenting that it was too sweeping.

DISTRIBUTING COKE DIRECT?

Mr. Ashton suggested that the board should consider distributing coks direct to the consumer. Many people in the board's area were on a small weekly wage, and the price charged by dealers was too high. He moved that a report be brought down to the next meeting.

The chairman seconded -the. motion, saying it would do no harm: : '

Mr. V. E. Jacobson thought it was a waste' of-time to discuss the matter at present. The Borough Council's experiments in distribution in the past had been failures, and the board would have enough . to;.. occupy its attention during the next year.-' "•

Mr.. J. Gumming agreed that., if the board could help, the _small consumer it should do so."

The motion was carried.

The foreman in ' charge (Mr. J. Adams),, in his report.for May,.stated that the gas . manufactured was 10,853,000 cubic feet, which was an increase, of 713,000 cubic feet over May, 1936, and an increase of 300,000 cubic feet over April of this year. The average make per ton was 15,032 cubic feet.