THE GAS WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1486, 16 December 1915, Page 2

THE GAS WORKS.

MANAGER’S REPORT

The following report from the gas manager was read at Monday night’s Council meeting : The output of gas for the month of November has been very good. We sold through private consumers’ meters 68,500 It. more than last year’s sales for the corresponding month. The increase is not confined to the cheap rate fixed for cooking gas, but is a general advance, as shown in the following different allocations, increase tor lighting 15,000 ft., for cooking 17,800 ft. and for power 35,600 ft. We installed one new supply, and fixed two cookers since last report. Owing to my assistant being on two weeks sick leave, the outside work had to stand over. We have three new supplies in hand in Gladstone Street. I find a main had been laid in this street some years ago, but up to the present was not in use. In canvassing from time to time, I find a good number of rented houses where the tenants would use gas if the owners installed the fittings. Now as we have got the rate of charges fixed which seems to give satisfaction, I would suggest that owners of property be offered liberal terms for a stated period. Say you started with the New Year, and gave them fittings installed at bare cost for six or nine months. If the idea was acted on, detailed conditions could be drawn up to govern any abuses, and to avoid pushing the supplies where little or no consumption was to be obtained. lam of opinion a good number of good profitable customers might be obtained. By bare cost I mean fittings at lauded cost, the same as cookers, aiso piping and labour at bare cost. The carbonising plant is working well, but as we work one shift only, the four retorts are used to the full capacity. We received twenty-six tons 16 cwt. of coal during the month. On the motion ot Cr Whibley, seconded by Cr Stevenson, the report rvas referred to the gas committee for consideration.