CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11224, 6 April 1904, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Gas Question.

TO THE EjQITOB.

Sir, — In your leader of the sth instant you are good enough to say with reference to the gas question "Cr Liffiton has changed his views since the last annual meeting." Will you allow me to say such a sentence ijead in connection with the context, conveys a wrong impression.' It is quite' true 1 did vote as you say, and under the .same circumstances would do so again. At th,e time I was not satisfied the gas supply, ac a business, was going to turn out as well as it has done, and I had a lively recollection of hasty action thrust on the Council when j>lsoo of the ratepayers' money was absolutely wasted and thrown away on the attempt to run water under high pressure through earthern waterpipes, to better Mr Jackson's scheme, in connection with the water supply from Virginia Lake. Now the circumstances are different from last year. The gas supply as a business is an assured success, and it should be borne in mind that Mr Hatnck, in hisl speech in 1900, having reference to the Gas Co.'s balance-sheet, which showed a dividend of 10 per cent,, pointed out that the balance-sheet showed a profit of 15 per cent., if other matters were considered, and that the gas consumers' were but a set of milch cows for the company. Very well, if that is so, what are the gas consumers now, with the present balance-sheet, showing a net profit of over 20 pe.r cent. This is how gas consumers are affected. The figures are taken from the Council books. A business place on Taupo Quay — not the Chronicle — paid for the year for gas .£111; the annual rate on the premises amounts to J£6 9s 4d. The proprietors of these premises paid .£9 15s as a contribution to the streets, etc., whereas if a rebate of 6d were allowed they would have paid that amount less. But taking Mr Smithies' figures,, be tells us that a reduction of 6d meanß .£535 for nine months; for twelve months .£713— 2 3-8 per cent, on the capital. So it becomes a simple sum. If 2 3-8 per cent, represents 6d (.£9 15s) on the consumption of gas in one establishment, how much does that same establishment contribute when the profit is as Mr Smithies indicates? I think 11 per cent, profit ample to demand from the gas consumers. — I am, etc., . ED. N. LIFFITON.

"A body's, no broke that has a gude Mas-sey-Harris Bicycle left." With it Tie can face the world with a brave Heart, for, truly, the -poor man's best friend is his Massey. Take your Massey for better or for worse; treat it well, and it will never fail you. After all, a horse is a poor thing alongside a Massey-Harris Bicycle. What say those who know? — Turner and Co. now have the local agency, in the Avenue. — Advt.