THE THERM.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1923, Page 3

THE THERM.

COMMITTEE’S DECISION. LONDON, March o. The Departmental Committeo of the Board of Trade, after a long inquiry into the method of charging for gas on a thermal (heat) basis, in their report issued yesterday are unanimously in favour of this system. Their recommendations are:— That the method of charging on the therm basis should lie continued and extended to all statutory gas undertakings. That the Board of Trade should consider what are the best means to employ in order to ensure that all gas undertakings charging by the therm shall supply to each ordinary and prepayment consumer a meter card whereon shall be clearly stated, in addition to the date of reading and the indication of the meter, the current declared calorific value, the number of cubic feet registered by the meter, and the number of therms consumed calculated at the declared calorific value. That until such time as consumers are familiar with the new method of charge, on the face of all gas invoices and prepayment receipts there shall he indicated the consumption in cubic feet as well as in therms and the charge per thousand cubic feet equivalent to the charge made per therm, and in addition the declared calorific'value of the gas supplied. GAS FITTINGS. Evidence was heard, states the committee, from representative bodies of consumers not only in London, but also from various parts of tbe kingdom. With perhaps one exception no corporate body lias professed itself other than satisfied with the therm method of charging. Evidence lias been invited from over one hundred local authorities in and around the area of Greater London and also from a body representative of local authorities throughout the country who do not themselves supply gas. mid opinion has been almost unanimous in favour of the therm.

“After careful consideration of all the evidence available,” concludes the committee, “we are unanimously of opinion that the method of charging by the therm is the best safeguard of the consumer. It is abundantly dear that this system of measurement can in no way affect the price, composition, quality, pressure, or supply of gas. It is a mere method of measurement and has and can have no active results.”

"We are not satisfied,” states the committee, "that the gas appliances now in use, many of which have been in service for twenty years and upwards, arc in all cases as satisfactory as can he desired for the economical consumption of gas. "Gas undertakings should he required carefully to test all fittings supplied by them and reject the ineflieleiit and uneconomical. Complaints ef high emwumptlon pf ps npd peel-

dents due to unsatisfactory or improperly placed geysers, or to the use of gas taps unprovided with proper stops, or of other inferior appliances would also correspondingly fall.”