MUNICIPAL GAS WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1950, 11 March 1919, Page 3

MUNICIPAL GAS WORKS.

At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, the gas manager reported as follows: —

The gas manufactured for the month of February shows an increase as against last month, and also for the corresponding'month of lastyear, So far this summer I have been unable to paint part of the plant on account of outside work. I would also draw attention to the stoke house roof on the south side as being iu had repair, and would suggest that same he repaired before winter. The carbonising plant is working satisfactorily. One large cooker has been connected, and Jive services cleared. —Report adopted.

GAS DISCOUNTS REDUCED. In dealing with the Finance Committee’s recommendations that discounts on gas used for cooking, heating and power be reduced, the Mayor said the following recommendations were made, viz., that a reduction of Is 3d per 1,000 c. ft. (net price 8/9, instead of 8/4); consumers using 1,000 c. ft. and over per month, 2/1 per 1,000 c. ft., making the net rate for gas 7s lid, instead of 7s Id. The discount tor lighting remains the same. The Mayor said that owing to the fact that the Council is unable to obtain coal for gasworks by steamers, and the increased cost of production, the Council is faced with the necessity of making an increase in the price of gas. Comparing the-prices charged in Palmerston with Foxton, he found that the nett cooking price up to 10,000 ft. per month in Palmerston North is 7s Gd per 1,000 c. feet; in Foxton from 1,000 to 10,000 c. feet the present nett price per 1,000 feet is 7s Id, being the same price as is charged in \\ cllington. When we consider (lie increased railway freights and the increased cost of a smaller production, it is obvious that the same rale cannot be charged as in large cities or a lower rate, and pay our way. It was proposed leaving the net I lighting rale thc-same as at present, viz., 9s 2d, and increasing (lie net I price of cooking gas by 10d per 1.000 feet for users of 1,000 feel or over per month, and an increase of 5d per 1,000 feel for users of less than 1,000 feet per mouth, which will represent on the average jm increased payment of Is pinmonth to each consumer. The Mayor continued that the gas works must he run on business lines. If (he increase was not made it would mean an increase in the gas rate. Or. Hurley stressed the increase in the cost of coal, and added that there would he no difficulty m getting steamers if there was a depth of 10 feet of water from the entrance to llio wharf. It was pointed out that coal was now costing 34s flcl per ton, as against 24s two years ago. The new arrangement will come into force as from April next. The recommendations were carried unanimously.