NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 179, 24 April 1908, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.X

XYTTELTON GASWORKS. MUNICIPAL CONTROL. ' Chrlstchurch, April 23. The-'financial year, which ended on March 31, was, a successful : one for tho Lyttelton Municipal Gasworks. Tho net profit, for the year was £894, a few pounds more than the previous year's profit, and tho result is regarded as entirely satisfactory. A report presented, to tho Lyttoltdn Borough Council last evening stated.that to siim up in a conciso form the advantages that had . accrued to tho Corporation by the municipalisation of the'.works, it ought to be said that during fivo years and four months of civil control, the undertaking , had paid its way, and, in addition, had produced sufficient. surplus to voto £1110 to tho sinking fund* account, find £2324 18s. 9d. for- the extension of works, give tho consumers robates, by way of reductions in the , price of gas, equal -to almost £1000 per year, and, at the same ■ time, proyido a modest £500 in relief iof rates. - During the year l a reduction - in. price from -7s. 6d. t-o 63. 'Sd. per thousand feet was made, and tho Town Clerk;says, in his report, "Tho reductions in' the price of gas for lighting purposes,-'from 10s.'to 6s. Bd., or 33 -per cent, m five years, is an eloquent testimony to tho .advantages of municipal control, and our-prices, 6s. Bd. for'lighting,- and ss. lOd. for cooking and heating, will bare comparison with any works in tho Dominion putting out two or three times the quantity of gas we are making.' l Ho adds: —-"The factor of output in, relation to price is—as . even a most superficial study of the coonomics ' of-, gas manufacture will- show—a -most important one, to emphasise which I have but to say that wo could., produce double tho quantity of gas wo are now soiling without adding to our labour expenses, and with but a trifling additional outlay for interest, with the Mssut'uiat a 'saving of Is. Sd.'or Is. 9d. per 1000 cubic feot could be shown iu the cost of manufacture." " -