THIS IS GAS WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1924, Page 1

THIS IS GAS WEEK.

SOME ADVANTAGES OF GAS. 1c is well-known that the heavy fogs under which London and other loans sutler are eausc-d by llie imperfect combustion of coal used for domestic and for manufacturing purposes. Doubtless there are coatrilaitory causes from which our own brighter climate is free, but this furnishes no cogent reason lor shutting our eyes to the fact that the burning of coal in ordinary grates is a relic of barbarism, resulting in a baleful pollution of the atmosphere. The time is near when il will he regarded as an alienee against public health to pollute the air, in the same sense as it is now an oifenee to pollute drinking water. A man consumes about lilt to 730 pounds in weight of air per day, two to three pounds of loud, and four to five pounds of water, so that food and water together are less than one quarter of the weight of air consumed. These figures should bring home to every intelligent person the necessity of preventing pollution of the atmosphere. , The chief offender is the domestic chimney, and the only remedy is the general introduction of smokeless fuel. This may take the form either of gas or of electricity, hut it may not he supcrllunus to point out that in the best modern plants, coal is so thoroughly gassilied as to render 7-3 heat units out ol lilt! available fur distribution as gas, as against IS out of UK) available if the coal is used to generate electric energy. With water-gotten electricity, these liguivs would not upoly. but in practice there can be no doubt that gas and electricity must work together, each holding its own ground where it is the more suitable. One great advantage of gas is. given a main in the neighbourhood, it can be installed at a trilling cost to the consumer. Gas grates and cooking stoves and the like, may he hired for a modest rent, or may he bought on the instalment plan, whereas the capital outlay for an electrical installation to do the same work is so serious as to he for modest purses, prohibitive. Again, the maximum heat of a gas apparatus is very quickly reached, a fact that gives it a further advantage in the friendly competition with elect lieity.

Where time is regarded as of value, the saving of labour with gas appliances as compared with coal stoves ami grates, is a factor that in ilsell should suffice to lead to the general use of the more cllicient form of fuel. The task of cleaning grates and starting tires consumes in the aggregate an enormous amount of energy, and the figures of the total loss under this heading ahum in houses where gas migln he installed, would he simpl.v staggering. .lust think ibis fact over!

To-morrow at Mr Shannon’s. Kevcll St., there will he ,'mother display ol gas cooking and a fresh arrangement of llie gas appliances. During tile week there has been much enquiry as Io cooking and heating appliances foilin' summer season now opened up. Manv gas cookers and gas heated coppers are to he installed in Hokitika in the near future. The public are realising the wonderful servant gas is. and with the modern appliances it call he applied in so many ways to add to the domestic comfort. It a vote were taken of the women of the homes there would he a sweeping majority in lavor of the int rodtiel ion of gas into every home, and its application to all kinds of domestic service including cooking, heating, lighting etc.