THE GAS SHOWROOM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10278, 5 July 1911, Page 5

THE GAS SHOWROOM.

IS IT A PAYING PROPOSITIOK? THE MANAGER EXPLAINS. At last night's meeting of tihe 3dJasterton Borough Council, while matters oonoerning the Gasworks w«p© being discussed, Or Pragnell brought up .the question of whether the new ishiOWHroom in Queen Street was a .payable concern. He stated that whiereas the cost of running the Town Clerk's office and all under the Town Clerk ma® £l2 10s per week, it cost £l4 10s to manage the affairs of the gas office. Thiis, Cr Pragnell considered, was beyond all reason, and he submitted that it could not possibly pay. A financial statement had been asked for repeatedly, but had not been presented. There was an aoountant in the office, yet there appeared to 'be no parson capable of ejtplaining the state of affairs. Or Eiwington rose to a point of order, stating that Or PlragaeH'is remarks were a reflection on the Gas .Manager and his staff. Or Pragnell said he did not wisflbt to oast any reflections on the staff, but he still maintained. ,that a satisfactory balance sheet had' not been brought forward. With, regard'to the accountant, he stated that he ! was never on the street, and that it appeared that the assistant did all the work. ' Or Temple isaad. that when the small room in the Council Chambers < was used for the show room it had I been found difficult (to show even ai very Small profit. Since moving in- j to tlhe new offices, the- business had considerably increased, which justified th.© action. i

.-., Mr Blackmain explained that a amount of irark wiasi dome in the office. Every montih 1100 accounts had to be sent'out, each • entailing six different .entries. There \.irs also about 200 accounts for coal acd coke. The assistant had to travel round tike town to read metens, and the accountant was never out of the office except to read the Queen Street meters. Mr Blackman con- . eddored that a more accurate accountant than was employed in the gas office was not obtainable in Masterton. Within three day® after the last discount day of each month every defaulter was served with a notice, an accomplishment that was never managed at any time before in connection with the gas office. In conclusion, Mr Blackmail said that if the Council ddd not have the present office they would require to have another one, or build one of their own. ■■••'' , The Mayor, explained that Or Bragnall wa.s under a misapprehension The whole' of the wages paid, with the exception, perhaps, of ihalf the lady assistant's .salary, was for work done in connection with the gasworks (which was a big concern), and not only for the .work in connection with the show-room, as O Pragmell suggested. It would certainly he am expensive project if the running of the showroom cost £l4 10s a week. The accountant kept ■" the v .books and issued accounts for gas consumption, and the assistant's work was all in connection with the works. The lady assistant's work • was .partly in connection with the works and partly to do with business in' tike ishow.-iroom, whiile the Manager ispent practically the whole of Ms time at the Gasworks. The Mayor stated that it was (much in the accountant's favour that he was seldom, if ever, Been in, the streets. Or Breatioe said that with the explanation of rtjhe Mayor;.and tike Gas Manager, the Council ought to be quite satisfied. 0r Elliott said that the accountant rwas very attentive to his duties. The matter then dropped, Or Bragnell apparently not .'being quite satisfied as to the position.