Sale of Coke.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 6 August 1918, Page 2

Sale of Coke.

RATEPAYERS OR OUT SIDERSP The Lighting Committee of the liorough Council made" the follow ing recoinmenadation to the Bo rough Council last night regard . ing the sale of coke, which hae come into great demand locally; "That dating frorii. August, 1918, tli© pTice of coke be 35s per ton to botli wholesale and re tail customers, and that the l price . per sack be 2s; and that no ; one person, firm or institution be ial lowed more than one ton eiach per week, and that Mr J.S. Johnstone be allowed half a ton per week (if possible)." ' HitKerto the price of coke has been 80s per ton, Mr Johnstone being charged. 255. The Levin Dairy Company and the Boys' Training Farm have been taking' a ton a week. Twenty two bags.of.',, coke go to the ton. i< When the report was read the . Mayor questioned the justice of the last clause. The purchaser mentioned had been a regular cus tomer, retailing the coke out iu small quantities; that, was surely for the benefit of the ratepayers \ who otherwise would have to go to the works and do their pwn. ; carting of a bag or two at consi' ' derable increased cost. It was only reasonable to allow * that practice to continue as it _would save tlxe gas works staff's time.""'

Gr JJull said they must rejmem ber tliat the output of coke was very'limited, only aniountihg to ,4J tons per week. • Crs Bryson, Aitken, and Lan caster agreed with the Mayor. : Cr Matheson, Chairman of the Lighting Committee, suggested referring the, recommendation, back to the Committee. Person ally Le had strongly opposed it, but it was agreed to by the other three members of the Lighting Committee and was endorsed by the gas manager. Cr Mackenzie did not see why the Council should not keep the coke business in its own. hands. The gas manager had worked the trade up and now there was a ten dency to clip his wings. He be lieved the Council should consi der the question also of going into the retail coal business if it was in the interests' of the ratepayers. Cr Bryson said the I)airy.Com , paiiy shareholders lived in the' County and were not ratepayers.. Let them be restricted if anyone had to be cut down.... They could use other fuel. The Council was hearing continually aboufhow the gas staff was overworked and the retailing, of a few bags of coke could be left while they did more urgent work. _ •, Cr Mackenzie: We are letting sentiment interfere with business* proposing to take a lower, price than we can get elsewhere. The Mayor moved that the last | clause be altered to read: That Mr Jolinstone be charged- 30s per "ton and be supplied with up to half a ton a week. The amendment was carried by 6 to 3, and the recommendation, as altered, was then adopted.