USE OF GAS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 109, 10 May 1943, Page 4

USE OF GAS

WEEK-END SAVINGS

ECONOMIES STILL URGED

It was anticipated that the industrial gas holiday on Saturday and economies by domestic users during the week-end would have resulted in the Auckland Gas Company's holders containing between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 cubic feet at 7 a.m.. to-day. This was not realised, the manager of the company, Mr. Rupert Worley, stating this afternoon that only 2,050,000 feet of gas had been saved. The two holders in Victoria Street were practically full, but the Beresford Street holder was only one-third full.

Industry had responded well to the company's appeal, he said, '*nd 500,000 feet of gas had been conserved. He explained that some industries could not switch of? completely as it would take tour times as much gas to heat up the furnaces again. That did not make for economy. The total consumption of gas last Saturday was 3,190,000 cubic feet, compared with 3,694,000 feet the previous Saturday, a saving of 504 000 feet. The consumption on Easter Saturday (April 24) was 3,156,000 feet. On Saturday, April 17, 3,567,000 feet were used, while on the two previous Saturdays consumption exceeded 3,700,000 feet. Consumption Figures The consumption yesterday was 3,166,000 feet, compared with 3,542,000 for the previous Sunday, a reduction of 376,000 feet. On Eastei Sunday 3,024,000 feet were used. On the two previous Sundays the- consumption was just over 3,300,000 feet, while on the first Sunday -n April over 3,500,000 feet were used. Mr. Worley said that although the saving of gas by householders during the week-end did not come up to anticipations, it had to be borne m mind that the weather was cold, ana, if the public had used the quantity of gas normally consumed in such weather the figures would not have shown the saving disclosed. It was still necessary to economise in every way possible. He had had reports this morning to the effect that gas cookers had been used to heat homes yesterday owing to the coal and coKe position.

Position for This Week

"It is difficult to judge at the moment what the position will be for the remainder of the week " said Mr Worley. "It is anticipated that if users economise as much as possible supplies will be available all the week and it is confidently hoped that industry will not be asked again on Saturday to declare a gas holiday. The output was materially increased during the week-end owing to a special effort made by the men employed on gas production. Referring to the shortage of coke for the public, Mr. Worley said it was hoped that the consumption ot coke for producing gas would be greatly reduced when the company s new plant was in operation. There would be additional coke owing to the use of the new ovens, and the position should be then greatly relieved. All the coke at present produced went to war industries, orphanages and other such institutions. This left none for householders. One firm alone producing for the war effort was using 24 tons of coke weekly, and two other concerns on war work each used ten tons weekly.