OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1940, Page 5

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

GAS & ELECTRIC SERVICES (To the Editor) Sir—l should like to make a comment on a letter appearing in your paper of Friday, March 1. I am the occupier of a State house which is one with gas water and cooking installations. Actually the gas water system heats the water quite satisfactorily, but the cost is quite prohibitive and extremely erratic. For instance, on occasions when the water heater has not been in use for half the month the accounts have been higher than when it has been in daily use. In spite of inquiries there has never been any explanation given me of this. Obviously we may as well be paying the Masterton Gas Department a charity benefit for the privilege of using gas in the home and. incidentally, keeping the Gas Department finances- a little more “healthy.” It is. of course, quite understandable that the council is interested only in getting as many gas installations as possible, regardless of the inequitable cost when compared with electricity.

I .do not wish to raise a controversy over the respective merits of gas or electricity, but it appears that the Gas Department makes no attempt to compete with electricity on the price question. I have ascertained from other State' house occupiers that they have a splendid day-long service with electric hot water for approximately 7s Gd per month. Also there is a generous cut rate for electric installation throughout. I find my cooking account alone would cover the entire cost of electric cooking, water heating and lighting. If the council do know all these facts it is indeed no wonder they would now be willing to drop the question of more gas water heaters. But even so, gas cookers (along with electric lighting and water heating) are certainly not as economical as all electric installations. In conclusion, it seems that the Gas Department, which might have had quite a reasdnable return from gas users in the State houses, will now lose that income from failing to realise that tenants see no j-eason why they should pay far more for water heating and cooking under one system than under another. Finally, no tenant here with gas water heating will be sorry when the change-over is made to electricity— I am. etc.. STATE HOUSE TENANT. Masterton, March 2.

KNITTING FOR SOLDIERS (To the Editor.) Sir,--May I suggest through your columns that now is the time for the young women of this town to find pleasure in banding together—meeting at. different houses and knitting for the services. A really good work of sacrifice would bring its own reward of satisfaction. —Yours, etc., KNITTER. Masterton, March 4. CENTENNIAL DISPLAYS (To the Editor.) Sir.—Regarding the procession that is being held in Masterton as part of the local New Zealand Centenary celebrations. it is gratifying to note that the request for exhibits of old vehicles, etc, is being well responded to. However. it’ it has not already occurred to those inaugurating proceedings the writer suggests that, to make the procession even more spectacular, the committee arrange for the loan of some of the displays that appeared in the recent proceedings al Greytown and Carterton. The celebrations do not refer to one particular town only but. to the whole of New Zealand, so there should be no objection to borrowing from outside. —Yours, etc. P.B.P. Masterton. March 4.