GAS CONSUMPTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1043, 14 September 1911, Page 3

GAS CONSUMPTION.

HOW TO INCREASE SAME

MR LUMSDEN’S PROPOSITION. At Monday night’s Council meeting the following letter was read from Mr Lumsdeu, licensee of the Manawatu Hotel; "The Council having now acquired the gas works are naturally anxious to improve the output of gas. In order to do this they are extending the mains and connecting up houses where the gas has uot beeu used belore. The outlay on an average, 1 presume, will be at least per house. These houses will, lu most cases, be using only one burner during the evening. In addition to this you are putting in gas stoves at EESS than cost price and giving a reduction in the price charged for gas used in cooking. Now, I wish to put before you a business proposition. If the Council is willing to provide me with a new lamp with four inverted burners, for the outside of the hotel, free of charge, I will guarantee to bum it every night of the week except Sundays, all the year round, from seven to leu. lu winter, of course, it would be alight much longer. The cost of the lamp is only four or five pounds. Now gentlemen, you will see at once that this would pay you better than putting gas Into private houses. Of course, I pay lor lighting gas, uot cooking gas. In addition to this the ratepayers would benefit from the fact that the Avenue would be much better lighted thau at present. If all the hotels in P’oxtou had a similar lamp the Maiu street would have a better appearance during the eveuing than at present. I need uot mention that the lamp would always be the property of the Council and could be removed by them at any time.”

Cr Speirs moved and Cr Adams seconded, that this Council offer to Mr Lumsdeu to erect a lamp of the description asked for on the same conditions as are given to others getting connections made. In speaking to the motion the mover said that at present where new connections were being made, time payments where accepted it desired. He considered that would be the best terms they could give Mr Lumsdeu.

Cr Coley favoured granting the application. He said the light would be a benefit to residents using the Avenue. At the present time there was no lamp from the corner of Main street until Johnston street was reached. Eventually the Council would have to put a lamp at the corner of Hall street, but if this lamp were erected outside of the hotel it would not be necessary to have a street lamp there. Further, it would be a good thing for the Hall to have a good light so near. Cr Rimmer said that another lamp was required in the Avenue and he thought this request should be granted, even if only to increase the output of the gas works.

Cr Adams said that it Mr Lumsden’s request were granted it was quite possible that the proprietors of the other hotels would make similar applications, and the Council would then have no option than to accede to them.

Cr Carter said he would support the motion.

Cr Chrystall suggested meeting Mr Lumsden half-way. He should certainly pay half the cost of the lamp. The Mayor objected to the application on principle. He considered Mr Lumsden had made out a very good case, but in his opinion the principle of giving anything for nothing was bad. The object of the request is to get that particular locality lighted up. If it were granted it would meau that the Council would have to lay out which would be absolutely dead stock. Of course the consumption of gas would be good, but it would be creating a precedent, and if private people made application for a similar lamp in front of their gates the Council would be morally bound to grant their requests. If the hotel required lighting up, then Mr Lumsden should be able to pay for it. Cr Speirs said that in any case the law compelled Mr Lumsden to keep a lamp alight in front of his premises. At the present time fittings were being put in at very little above cost price and he had no doubt Mr Stunell would meet Mr Lumsden in the same way. On the motion being put it was carried.