GAS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 223, 11 September 1876, Page 2

GAS.

To the Editor op the "Evening Mail.* Sin,— One word on the gas question. Councillor Gray says lowering the price for stoves means favoring the wealthy class. I should have thought it meant bringing gas within reach of the poor. The rich man cau pay 143 or 40s for his luxuries, aud it makes J. little difference to him whether gas be 14s 2d or 10s. But it makes a great difference to the artizan, the laborer, and the man who is compelled to " make both ends nie'et" out of a small limited income. There are about 90 stoves in poor men's cottages in Hokitika, and I hope to see as many ere long in Nelson, but it cannot be with gas at the presentprice. Our gas works ought to be able to produce ten times as much as is now sold. All that can be produced ought to be produced and sold at the lowest price which will leave a margin of profit, however small, after paying working expenses, interest, &c. There is something just, no doubt, in the argument that the reduction in price ought to affect all consumers, but the supply for stoves is usually looked upon in other works as surplus stock, that is to say, ordinary consumers are supplied first and as many, of them obtained as possible,— if the company cannot get rid of it all in that way then they sell their dead stock at a reduced but still payable rate. '.. 1 believe we are not getting anything like what we ought to out of our gasworks— there is a screw loose somewhere — for ivith* our plant there should be no difficulty in making : gas to meet* any demand Nelson can ever make— and to make ifc afc a profit after paying . working expenses and interest— and the price nee*d not and ought not to exceed eight shillings and sixpence per thou and all round. I am, &c, A Poor Man.