STATEMENT BY MR. CLENDON.

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 88, 11 October 1921, Page 2

STATEMENT BY MR. CLENDON.

Mr. S. Clendon, chairman of the Hutt Ratepayers' , Association, has made the following statement: —

VThe Mayor of Hutt, in Saturday's Post, has a long statement in approval of tho erection of gasworks in the Hutt, but makes no attempt to answer the seven reasons I gave why we consider gasworks should not be erected' at the present time. He says it will be all right, but we think the ratepayers had better build on .the rocks of certainty than get into the quicksands of uncertainty in experimenting in tho manufacture of gas at the present time., I understand him to say the new works will be able to supply gas to consumers at 7s lOd per 1000 cubic feet, on an estimated consumption of 30,000,000; also that the ' cost of distribution -is 4s per 1000 cubio feet. If we take this off 7s lOd wo have 3r lOd left. The interest on the loan of £64,000 will amount to 3s on every £1000, which will leave lOd to buy coal and manufacture tho gas, and pay sinking fund and -depreciation. Unless he is able to make us bolieve the sale of coke and tar will do this we can be pardoned for feeling a lack of confidence, in his statements. An enthusiastic mind can make these things look all very well in print, but the merits of the proposal should bo considered with cold and calculating reason. His statements in regard to the Petone works are without foundation, as Mr. M'Ewan, the Mayor, will be quite able to prove. I think the loyalty of the Hutt Borough Councillors should be tc tho ratepayers and not to Mr. Rishworth, and tho erection of unnecessary gasworks."