GAS INSTITUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1927, Page 1

GAS INSTITUTE

MEETS IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Feb. 9.

The third annual meeting of the Gas Institute of New Zealand was held today. about fifty members attending from jail parts of the Dominion. The proceedings, which will extend over the remainder of Ihe week, opened with a welcome from Sir Harold Beauchamp, chairman of the directors of the ’Wellington Gas Company. He stressed the fact thfit, in spite of the competition of electricity gits v.ai.s more than holding its owns, more of course in the direction of heating and power than as an illuminant. the high cost of hydro-elec-tricity undertakings partly accounting for this. Sir Harold Beauchamp raided that lie thorough endorsed the remarks of the chairman of the Auckland Gas Company on the subject of unfair taxation: —“ln five years the. Auckland Gas Company had paid away i£ 135,417 in income tax, or £27,000 per annum, and Wellington Company £101.020. All municipal enterprises should ho taxed similarly to private enterprise and thus do away with unfair competition.” 'Pile Gas .Institute, lie said, was a flourishing concern. Since its foundation three years ago its membership had increased to 71, and it had a healthy surplus of assets. It was encouraging to see 'amongst the members so many from the smaller companies: rubbing shoulders with the members from the bigger companies was hound to he good for till concerned. A mutual exchange of ideas was beneficial, and the question would arise during the meeting of the desirability of linking up with the Gas fn titute of Australia.

After Sir Harold Uoaucliamp bad boon thanked for his welcome, an apology was read from the Mayor (Mr C. J. P,. Norwood), who expressed his regret at being nimble to he present. In his presidential address. Mr M. J. Kennedy, alter welcoming the delegates. referred to the idea of linking up with Australia .so as to have one association for Australia and New Zealand. which would he a good thing for the industry. The gas industry, he west, on to sav. depended upon a plentiful .supply of good and suitable coal, 'the cost of Westport, Greymoutli. and Newcastle ccnl (the most suitable* available) had increased by leaps and bounds. The two former in 1907 could be obtained from 15s 7d per ton: last year the cost, was 12s per toil. As coal bad increased in price of 170 per cent, during the last. 20 years and wages by 100 per cent, it spoke well lor the economical working of lhe gas companies that flic price of gas had been but slightly increased. A number of technical matters ill connect ion with the manufacture of gas. the testing of meters, and similar .subjects were touched upon, and ttave rise to considerable discussion. The delegates were entertained at luncheon to-day by the directors of the Wellington Gas Company, and a visit was paid during the afternoon to the gasworks at Mitainnr. This evening’s session will be of a social nature, with the screening of a film entitled “Around the Clock by Gas.” Business will be resumed to-morrow, when Dr E. Marsden, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, will deliver an 'address. Papers to be read to-morrow are “The Preparation of Road Tars by the Lead Bath Process” (by Air "W. O. R. Billing. ALA.. B.Sc.. of Christchurch) and “Experience with a Blue Water Ohs Plant and Horizontal Settings” (bv Air J. W. Blackman, of Mastertoil). In the afternoon a visit will be paid to Petone.