GASWORKS EFFICIENCY.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19885, 14 May 1936, Page 11

GASWORKS EFFICIENCY.

__.____ INSTALLATION OF NEW PLANT. FUI‘tTY-HOUR \V‘EEK QUESTION. Authority to instal :1 charging machine, with coal elevator and stor—age hopper, at the Hamilton gnsworks. at. an approximate cost. of £7“), was sought hy the gaswm'ks cnginccr, .\lr , J. li. liishworlh, at at meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last even—ing. In a report on the matter .\lr Rlshworih said he was making the requcst in view of the 40—hour week proposals, which, when carried out. would have a very serious effect on the manufacturing costs or the works. At present the stokers worked and were paid for 56 hours per week. Their time would undoubtedly be cut‘ down considerably under the new‘ legislation, and the proposed machine would enable the writer‘s department to meet at least in part the increased labour costs incurred for this branch of the business. It. was expected that the use of the charger would result in an increase in the make per ton. which was variously estimated by different makers atl figures ranging from 3100 to 2000 ML per ton. Taking tho lowest. figure: nnrier prescnt, mirrnmsinncr‘s. thl‘ L‘Olllir‘il's annual cool bill would bcl reduced in)" £9O, which \\ould rr-lnrn 12 not" rent on the onllu). min-r advantages would hr, the reduction or \\'r‘ar and tear on plant, :1 some in coke, and the possibility of using more \\'nikalo coal. . Impossible to Estimate. .\lr C. Lafferty asked what the extra wages would amount to in the event ‘ of the 40—hour week being intrndurcd. i The town clerk, Mr \\’. it. \\'addcl. said it was impossible to make any estimate until copies of the Act were received. Opinion was expressed by .\lr J. ‘Tidd that it was unfortunate that the question or the 1.0-hour week had been included in the gosworks 'cngineer‘s report. The suggestion that the proposed apparatus should he installed had been hetero lhc roum'il previously and at that time the com—mittee thought it worth while to in—stal the machinery, quitr- apnrt .from any question of a 40—hour work. in moving that the mnltrr should he. referred to the 'l‘rudin‘.w and l-‘innncn Ilnmmlllev, thn Mayor, Mr .l. H, Pow, said it. (‘rnu-rrnod the villi-ivncy or (in: works, itllll the use, of more \\'uiltuto coal. The motion \\‘(ls ('urriml. I