THE GASWORKS

Southland Times, Issue 18831, 26 May 1920, Page 5

THE GASWORKS

THE YEAR’S WORKING,

When the estimates were being discussed at last night’s meeting of the Council, Cr. Miller said that the result of the year’s working of the gasworks did not show a great profit, and were he a shareholder in a business that only made £lO3 for the amount of capital sunk he w»uld certainly want, to know more about the working. The Mayor: Put up 'the price and you will get bigger returns.

Cr. Miller: The price is large enough at present for the quality of the gas. The Mayor; The coal is bad at present. Cr. Miller: A while ago it was the war. There has been little improvement in the quality since I came to Invercargill, and I am inclined to think that the' plgnt is out of date.

Cr. McDonald said that the gasworks had come through a trying period and had kept the price of gas down to the consumers, thus conferring a benefit upon the community. If it were decided to do without depreciation they must look upon the gas statement as a good one. Perhaps more revenue could be got from the sale of the by-products.

Cr. Miller; The price of coke now is almost that of coal. Cr. McDonald; I would like to see money set aside to cover depreciation, as the present margin is too fine to cover contingencies.

Cr. Stevenson said that depreciation should be shown us it was an important amount on such a large plant.

Cr. Freddy said the position must be gone into and the expenditure finalised.