GAS CONSUMERS AND THE COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 2 July 1887, Page 4

GAS CONSUMERS AND THE COMPANY.

Monopolies might well have applied to them, with but- slight verbal altera., tion, the remark of the cautious Cale. (lonian with reference to the national beverage—" Whuskey's bad, especially bad whuskey !" That the Auckland Gas Company is not a bad sort of monopoly is shown by the conciliatory tone of their reply to the communication from the consumers' committee. But conciliation is not concession, and it only requires a casual glance at the Gas Company's letter to show that the" quantities of "gas" to solid satisfaction contained in it are in . the same proportion as sack and bread in the Falstaffian bill of fare. Of the dozen or so of concessions asked by consumers only one is absolutely granted, and that is the comparatively unimportant one of having the gas account left at the time of " taking the meter." The more important requests of the consumers were that there should be a general reduction in the price of gas, thatthe rate charged to large consumers should be lowered, that the fine for delaying payment of accounts should be lowered from 25 to 10 per cent, and that the Gas Company should supply regulating burnei'3 to consumers on the higher levels, and that they should pay some share of the salary of an inspector of meters. The only concession made with regard to the excessive fine for delaying payment is that, on payments deferred for five, days 'of an intermediate period, the fine will be only 10 per cent. Trifling enough iv all conscience this concession' is; but in that way it is eclipsed by the Company's treatment of the request to pay for a meter inspector. They declare themselves perfectly willing to permit such an official to inspect their meters, and they will graciously allow the City Council 'to provide that official's salary ! ' Naturally enough, the Company decline to provide regulating burners that would effect a saving of from 15 to 50 per cent, to the consumers. All the other requests are completely ignored. Let no one, therefore, accuse the Gas Com pany of discourtesy. to be charitable, let us suppose that they read the | letter by indifferent artificial light, and probably overlooked the threefold appeal for a reduction of the price of

Lest haply there 'may- be in other spheres than the legislature "not only carelessness, but lack of brain power," we offer a few remarks upon the questions at issue. As to reduction of price generally, we are distinctly of opinion that some slight concession could be made by the Company, and the reduction could be made a substantial one if the public had full confidence in the honesty of the meters and were led more largely to use gas instead of kerosene. With reference to the proposal of consumers that the rates should be graduated in proportion to the quantity of gas consumed, and that users of gas for power, heating, and cooking purposes should pay a special cheap rate, we think that the Company have a very good answer. They might fairly have pleaded that to grant these requests would simply mean reducing the rates to the wealthier consumers at the expense of the poor man, whose consumpt is limited. If it costs a certain sum to produce a thousand cubic feet of gas, there is no reason why it should be supplied cheaper to one man than to another ; and, besides, we have reason to believo that the charging of differential rates is utterly impracticable. If electricity is coming in as a competitor with gas, there is all the more reason for the Company consulting the,interests of those who only use gas for lighting purposes, instead of driving them into the arms of the enemy by unjustly oppressing them. With such excellent reasons to urge, it is surprising that the Gas Company should have ignored the question of differential rates.

The question of meter inspector is one upon' which all parties are agreed, save with regard to the little formality of salary. The Gas Company fail to see it to be their duty to pay a meter inspector, and they take their stand upon the alleged practice "everywhere else," which is stated to be that " the local authorities" pay the needful. The City Council think that the Gas Company or the consumers should be paymasters, and pending " more light" on the subject there the matter rests. It seems to us clear that the Municipal Corporation have no right whatever to spend public funds in supervising the business affairs of a rival and almost independent Corporation. If all city ratepayer, vera gas consumers, it

might be urged on grounds $ economy and expediency that tit' Council should in that mattl act for the scattered body of citizens; but any _ kerosene-burning ratepayfr could object to such expenditure p illegal. It is clearly a matter for Jjustmenfc between tho Gas Comparand the consumers, especially as |o official could only act on toleratitn by the Company. If the Comply appointed and paid a man, no maler how upright he might be, he wo|ld not command public confidence "'..Jut a very good compromise V<fht be for the consumers to Jdo the appointing, and the Companyfhe paying—fair division of labour fin that case the City Council, as .presenting the public, might be ask! to make the appointment, and to takfthe responsibility of dismissing the, oiip-al on proof of his corruptness orincapipil'}'-' As the "local authorities" hal a supervision over the sale o-Sjfods, both as to quality and weight, Jould they not be invested withvJiiijar powers in the matter of gas ?,T^ iafc would require legislation, ticfever, which it would be very difficult to carry through. I We think the Gas Company sowed great penetration and prudoi'ce in declining the request thatf they should provide consumers graft' with regulating burners that f would save 50 per. cent, in the.-pount of gas consumed. The askingP it by the Committee betrays an|a# int °f ingenuous confidence^ not to fay .refreshing verdancy.not often my with. The gas consumers, howeyeif should not be discouraged at .the rebuff they have sustained; the >(|rapany are, as we have pointed out, irta conciliatory mood, and under fidicious pressure may be induced .to Irant all the concessions asked for. ! f