Gas Shortage

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25161, 17 April 1947, Page 6

Gas Shortage

The decision of the Christchurch Gas Co. to cut off the supply of gas between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. has come as an unwelcome surprise to gas consumers. It is the more unwelcome because the company, with an amazing disregard for the convenience of its customers, gave no more notice than a newspaper and radio announcement on the afternoon of the day the supply was to be curtailed. The company must have known that a position was likely to arise in which curtailment of supply would be necessary; yet it gave no warning whatever and has allowed neither commercial nor private users time to make provision for alternative means of heating. Large commercial users, particularly, have been placed in a most awkward situation by this hasty decision. They certainly deserved more consideration from a company of which they have been customers for many years. “The Press”, for example, uses gas to heat most of

its linotype metal pots and for other purposes, yet the Christchurch Press Co., Ltd., had no warning of the cur-; tailment until about two hours before the notice was to take effect. No doubt other commercial and institution users were similarly embarrassed. Private users were just as entitled to warning. The company, in its announcement, makes a point of the dangers to consumers of disregard of instructions to cut off all appliances before 6 p.m. and not relight them till 6 a.m. Had reasonable notice been given, all consumers could have been amply warned of this danger, as they should have been. As it is, the danger is not sufficiently minimised; and the company, though it is not culpable for the circumstances that make curtailment of supply necessary, will certainly be to blame for any “ unfortunate accidents ” that may occur. The gas industry is a sheltered industry. Its customers have no immediate opportunity of seeking their requirements elsewhere when the company fails them. They are therefore entitled to even more consideration than the customers of any other commercial enterprise; and they should have received it.