CR WALKER AND THE GAS SUPPLY.

Evening Star, Issue 12874, 25 July 1906, Page 7

CR WALKER AND THE GAS SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your issue of last evening you make reference to my taking exception to the gas engines stopping “in damp, dirty weather,” as inserted by you in the article on Thursday last, and thus to many minds conveyed the impresion that the state of the weather affected the engine, not the gas supply. I maintain this hears out my contention—vis., that_ the defect was local—as otherwise a variation of pressure would not affect the working. You are unfortunate in referring to Morris and Co.’s engine, complaints from tho same firm of want of pressure having had the attention of the pas department on several occasions previously, and the cause they are fully coversant with—viz., that the present engine is being worked at its maximum power. Thus, a reduction of pressure would stop the machine. It is a well-known fact that a number of business firms have had the same trouble, but when a larger engine was installed no further trouble has been expressed. You take exception to me calling the article misleading, stating that you placed my speech iu full above your article. Here, again, you arc slightly in error. I took exception to the article written on Wednesday night iu your paper, which you inserted without, asking the department for any explanation, which, if obtained, would have placed the matter in a different light. You finish your article of last night by saying that “ he did not elect to defend tho department over the stoppage of Mr Morris’s engine all Tuesday, choosing rather to assume that our statement as to that fact was untrue.” As neither the gas department at the Town Hall, nor the works, nor myself were notified of any stoppage on Tuesday, I had no necessity to defend the department, as there was nothing to defend. In conclusion, sir, the facts (as you state) that the firm had to dispense with” over 100 employees for one clay, at a r great loss to themselves, that they were perfectly aware that the gas was the cause of all the trouble (though the engineer never touched the engine), and tho fact that you have condemned the gas because of olio or two isolated cases, which, if properly* looked into, would have been rectified, justify me in terming your article slightly' misleading; and Messrs Morris and Co.’s action in the matter (to say the least of it) most singular, they having been put to this loss and not troubling themselves to notify the department to get tho matter rectified, but leaving it till the nest morning, when the employees were at work. Your paper has always taken an intelligent interest in the welfare of the gas department, and I feel certain that had all the facts been known you would have hesitated before blaming tho present management, who have had great difficulties to contend with.—l am, etc., J.vmf.s H. Walker. July 24.