PETONE GAS SUPPLY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 70, 23 March 1920, Page 4

PETONE GAS SUPPLY

ONE-MAN CONTROL.

Tlie Petone Borough Council last evening held a special meeting to discuss \arions aspects of the gas supply question. Those present were: The Mayor (Mr. J. W. Jl'Ewan), and Councillors C. 1': Brocklebank,"W. Cox, J. Oturchouse, J. K.yle, W. Hay, A. Anderson, T). Bedingfield, and E. Tovoy. Tlie Jlayor said that at the present time the control of the gas production and distribation was divided, and it Was suggested that the gas manager should have supervision nnt only of the works and production, but bo responsible also for the distribution. Councillor Brock lebank said that Tib understood the service was working satisfactorily, and in that case a rhange was not necessary. Councillor Bedmgfield, oil the otheihand, thought that a change ns proposed would improve the snrvice. The gas manager (.Mr. H. A. Appleyard) said that the dual control\n as not satisfactory, and Petone was the only place in Nnw Zealand in which such a system operated. ' Councillor Cox said that the gas service was one man's job, and the only effective way was to have the responsibility placed on one person's shoulders. Councillor Churehoose's opinion Tvas that an engineer should be in charge of the retiiiulftvion and the gas manager was not an anginner. Councillor Hay stated that extra, work would be placed, on tlm gas manager if he wert* given, sole control, and he was desirous of knowing what addition it was proposed to make in Mr.. Appleyard's salary. The Mayor replied that personally he wotild be agreeable to a ten per cent, increase, which it was probable the lest of the officers of the staff of the council would receive. On the motion of Councillor Cox it was decided, to place the gas control under the gas manager, and to raise the salaries of the borough engineer and gas manager, by ten per cent.