CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 173, 25 July 1887, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

«as Bills.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your correspondent, " Consumer," has hit the right nail on the head at last. He says " Once again is there a universal complaint at the size of the gas bills for this mouth. It is a downright shame that this state of things should exist." My compliant, Mr Editor, is that the size of the bill is too small. On more than one occasion I have mislaid mine—it is certainly veiy diminutive. Besides, the, Company in using so little paper offers no inducement to paper mills being started. It is too bad a "wealthy corporation" using so little printers' ink on their bills ; it is no wonder the-press hit this concern so hard. And then,, too, to think that this Company even refused th 6 pressure put upon them by the Committee said, I believe, that the bills could not be altered, in ■ fact, the Committee said at last that there was nothing in it. But, joking apart, your correspondent no doubt means that the amount of his account for gas in the middle of the winter is heavier than he Jikes, for he says "once again." Now, " once " I take it means last winter, and " again," this. I recommended " Consumer "to foi'm a joint stock company to get tho solar system altered so that we can get' daylight up to say 11 p.m. Ho will say it is impracticable. It is equally impracticable and unreasonable to expeot that a gas, coal, kerosene, or candle account will be less or proportionally less in winter than in summer. In fact, it is all the other way. In summer we use artificial light as little as possible, at least that is my case. ; In winter, the agreeable heat generated by gas flames is a positive comfort.—Another Consumer.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Allow me, through the medium of your paper,1 to make a simple proposition to gas consumers, which, I think, may be for their future interest, though it may cause present inconvenience. Let those who feel the exorbitant price of gas a bin den have it cut off and make use of lamps and candles until such time as a moderate price be charged. My gas bill for some months has averaged 29s per month, and that in spite of the utmost economy. lam willing to go to the inconvenience of having the gas cut off, if others will do the same, and thus form a combination against the Company, which will have more effect than the most voluminous complaints.—A.D.,Mount Eden.

[" Lux " writes to similar effect.]

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Retrenchment is the cry that is now being echoed and re-echoed from one end of the colony to the other, and with many of us, alas! retrenchment within our own homes has been the order of the day for some timepast. All accounts possjble of retrenchment have been retrenched, but there is one account that any endeavour towards so doing is as futile as the novice's attempt to climb the greasy pole. On seeing that the gas bill for the month ending 6th June was twelve shillings more than the previous' month, we resolved to almost give up using' our gas stove, which resolution was strictly adhered to, the' stove being used only on rare occasions, and now judge of my surprise on receiving the last gas account to find a still further increase of 17s, making a total increase for the last two months of Ll 9s on the amount paid for the month ending sth May. Can anyone wondor at my indignation, knowing, as I do, that there was not so much gas burnt in my house during the month ending J.lth of July as during the month ending sth of May iast ? I feel almost inclined to close my shop at dusk rather than submit to such extortion. One of your correspondents suggested forming an association for the purpose of boycotting the Company—" Union is strength !" By such a combination, the Auckland Gas Company would have to bend or break.—l am, etc., J, G, Mathews, Karangahape Howl,