THE GAS WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1988, 10 June 1919, Page 3

THE GAS WORKS.

MAY WORKING. The amount of gas manufactured during the month of May was d30,100 i!., which, with the amount in holder on May Ist, 14,000 ft., made a total of 550,100 ft. The amount sold to consumers for lighting, was 215,100 fl., for cooking and heating 187,200 ft., and for power 01,100 ft., 25,400 ft. was used in the street lamps, 20,000 ft. at the works and manager’s house, and there was 10,000 ft. in the holder on June Ist, leaving 24,700 ft., representing a little over 44 per cent, of the output, unaccounted for. Forty-six tons of coal was carbonised, yielding 11,040 ft. per ton. MANAGER’S REPORT. The manager reported as follows: —The amount of gas manufactured for the month of May shows a slight increase as against (lie previous month, and also against the corresponding month of last year. . I have lixod the new iron on roof of retort house, and- also repaired roof of coal shed. I cleared three services last month, and have three more to dear this month, the cause being the pipes being filled with sand. The only way I can account for it is that when the main was put down the pipes were not cleared of sand. The carbonising plant is working satisfactorily. The amount of gas manufactured last year was (5,024,200 ft., against 5,77(5,200 ft. for the previous year, which is very satisfactory. I estimate" the cost of laying main in Purcell Street to Nyc Street at £179, To extend the present main to Mr J. Gore’s house in Purcell Street would cost approximately £134, and to further extend it to the end of Purcell Street would cost a further £45. I estimate the revenue to bo derived from the three proposed consumers in Purcell Street would bo £l(s per annum, and by extending the main (o Nyc Street for the extra consumer the estimated total revenue would be £2O per annum. Cr, Coley said that the cost of the proposed main was beyond their means. The Mayor agreed that the outlay would be 100 great. — The report was adopted..

STOKER’S WAGES,

Mr E. G. Marlin, stoker, made application for his wages to he increased from £4 to £-115s-per week. Mr Martin was also in attendance, and said that since lie had taken on the job the output of the works had greatly increased, and of course there had been a corresponding increase in his work. In Masterton tlie gas works stokers received 17s i)d per shift, and in other works the wages paid the stokers were higher than what lie received. Tlu* Mayor said he was sure all the Councillors appreciated Mr Marlin's services very highly indeed, bul in connection with the wages paid at other work's lie had made some enquiries, and found that at, Woodville the stoker received £7 2s B*l per fortnight, plus 15 per cent, war bonus, at Eeiidiug the stokers’ wages wore £-1 5s (Id per week of s(i boars, and at Levin 11s per day was paid, lie would be willing to pay a higher salary, but 1 hey laid Hie ratepayers to consider in the matter. On lasi year's working Ihe gas works were £BO worse off than the year before, the io>s on (he actual working account being £57. In this matter they must also be guided by what other works were paying, and he thought if they brought the wages up to (he Feildiug standard it would be a fair tiling. They wanted to do the right thing and give whatever was just to both the ratepayers and the worker. He moved that the wages he increased live shillings per week. Cr. Bryant seconded the motion. He said the works were “a white elephant,” and he couldn't see how they could afford to pay more. Cr. Coley: Increase the price of gas! If the Council could afford to supply consumers outside the borough, who had no gas rate to pay, at the same (nice as borough ratepayers, then they could increase the worker’s wages. He moved as an amendment that the wages be increased to £4 10s Od per week, which was seconded hv Cr. Rand.

Cr. Thompson said 'he would support the amendment. The faults of the gas works and the fact that the ratepayers had to pay a rate to support same should not be used as an argument against an increase of wages. If it was reasonable to grant an increase, then it should be granted.

Cr. Walker considered it was a pood suggestion to raise the price of gas to meet increases. The Mayor said that he was strongly opposed to raising the gas again if it could be avoided. Cr. Coley: Oh! It’s a luxury!

The Mayor said that the other boroughs he had mentioned had no doubt gone into the question thoroughly, and the Council must be guided by them. They could not go on adding-these burdens on to the people. Cr. Coley: Isn't it a well-known fact that Woodville is the miserablest place for a man to work in? There were more cases of embezzlement there than- anywhere else, caused by the ■ poor salaries that were paid. Cr. Hand said he wouldn't do the job for u a quid” a day. He held no brief for Mr Martin, but was satisfied the increase was justified. The amendment was carried. Cr. Coley: The three roadmen will be the next. The Mayor: It’s getting too hot altogether. Cr. Coley; Not at all. It means an increase all round.

OUTSIDE CONSUMERS. Cr. Coley said at- last night’s meeting there were ratepayers in the borough paying the gas rate who were unable to get the gas, and at the same time the Council was supplying consumers outside the borough, who had no gas rate to pay, at the same price as consumers in the borough. He did not think this was right. Ho moved that the gas consumers outside the borough area he charged tenpence per 1,000 ft. more than the price usually charged for gas in the borough.