The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1022, 27 July 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1911. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

By neglecting to initiate its own gas works, Foxton has had to “ pay through the nose ” for acquiring same from a private syndi ■ cate. What the ratepayers could have accomplished in this respect tor they have had to pay for, plus £ 2,000 for extensions to works, etc., a total ol ,£II,OOO. It is futile now to bemoan our past short-sighted action. The gas works have been municipalised, and we will have to do our best to make them pay in order to relieve the ratepayers from being burdened with a heavy annual rate. -The Mayor recently stated that the works “at the present time were paying everything with the exception of interest and sinking fund —a matter of £715 P er annum—and unless the consumption of gas could be largely increased there was every probability of this deficiency having to be met every year. . . • The sole and only

reason for the works not paying was the small consumption. Instead of putting out about 7,000 feet of gas per day, as was being done at present, the manager of the works had informed him that 15,000 feet could be manufactured without additional cost other than coal.” In order to provide for increased consumption, the Mayor suggests a further loan for the purpose of extending the mains and putting in fittings and

cookers at cost rates on deferred payment. “ If,” said the Mayor, “ the piablic assists the Council in making the works payable, which could easily be done, the Council would ttake the earliest opportunity ol reducing the price.” We are atraid there is very little chance ot any further loan tor gas purposes being s anctioned by the ratepayers —even though the Council should devise a scheme that would relieve the rat e which will be called up to meettlie deficiency. If we are correct in this assumption, it will re necessary for the Council to devise some other scheme within its present limits to increase the output and consumption. • A sugges lion has been made to us that I:he Council should instal cooker 5 as suggested by the Mayor,, at a rental of, say, is per month, and further reduce the cost of gas for this purpose as an inducement to people to connect up thei r premises and also as an inducement for present consumers to use the cookers. Is there sufficient loan money available to purcha: se cookers ? We hope the gas committee will be able to envolvti some practical alternative scheme: to the suggested loan proposal.