THE GAS INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 90, 17 April 1929, Page 4

THE GAS INDUSTRY.

POSITION IN BRITAIN. PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS. Those who are concerned directly or indirectly in the gas making industry in the Dominion will find much that is of interest in an article recently published in "The Times.'' In a special British Industries Fair number the London journal says:—"lt would not be surprising if among the impressions received bv visitors to the British Industrie Fair this year one o? the most outstanding was the vitality and progressive spirit of the gas industry of Groat Britain, for both in the London section and in the Birmingham section it makes a wonderful demonstration. In an article contributed by Sir David Milne \Y atson. Governor of the Gaslight and Coke Co. and president of the National Gas Council of Great Britain and Ireland, the writer says: -

"The advent of electricity as a lighting medium nearly 50 years ago was regarded by some as sounding the death knell of gas, but such melancholy forebodings have been entirely falsified. The Welslvi.-h mantle, which has enabled gas to retain its pre-eminent positio-n as a stivet-lignt-ing medium, as well as a still substantial share of the domestic and industrial lighting load, was the first response to the new competitor. The next was the development of gas as a fuel, first for and then for all forms of heating. Industrial application followed naturally, and is now on the way to rival in extent the demand for domestic uses. The output figures speak for themselves. In the course ot the last 27 years the amount of gas sold annually lias been doubled, and of that increase one-third has been achieved during the last six years. ''To-dav the gas industry stands upon the threshold of fresh development. To the impulse towards progress and expansion. which constantly comes from within the industry itself, is added the national call for the more scientific utilisation of the country's coal supplies and also for tho reorganisation of the country's industries to meet the changed conditions which have resulted from the war. Antiquated Laws. "The industry is fortunately well equipped to play a worthy part in the realisation of these aims: and that equipment will be completed if the ant i-ui it legislative restrictions imposed upon ga« supply are removed. I hese restrictions are an unfortunate relic of the time when gas. being without competitors, was regarded as a monopoly. Most of them have king outlived their usefulness and have even become a menace to those whom they were designed to protect.

"Strong hope that they will shortly be removed or modified ha*, however, been raised by the second report of the National Fuel and Power Committee, which was appointed by the Board of Trade to consider and advise the Government upon questions connected with the economic use of fuels and their conversion into various forms of energy, having regard to national and industrial requirements and hi the light of technical developments. "I he _ report throughout is almost entirely in favour of the pronosals put forward by the National Gas Council on behalf of the industry. It expresses the view that the industry should be freed at the earliest possible moment from irksome restrictions and urges that steps should be taken without delay to promote legislation to give effect to the recommendations made.''