GAS CHARGES.

Evening Star, Issue 21218, 27 September 1932, Page 5

GAS CHARGES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your three correspondents in to-night’s ‘ Star ’—Rev. Bryan King, “ Taxpayer,” and “ Consumer ” —arc to be congratulated in “ starting the ball rolling ” against the proposal of our Gas Committee to increase the gas charges to the small consumers of the city and suburbs. In our home we find the gas ring very handy, especially in connection with early morning breakfast, and, like hundreds of others, wo would not like to lose it. Our gas bill is about 5s to 7s every two mouths, and although that may seem small to some we can assure you that during the past few years, with income reduced almost to zero, we have found it very difficult at times to pay the meter reader even those small amounts. In Dunedin alone during the depression, which is by no means over, many hundreds must have found themselves in the same boat as we have, and yet, in spite of that, the men we elected to attend to our city’s affairs are today suggesting to take the most (proportionately) from those who can least afford to pay. Possibly they think that by so doing they are conforming to the Scripture, which reads: “ Unto him that hath shall be given, and Irom him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have. Or perhaps they think that by increasing the charges to small consumers they will compel such small consumers to become larger consumers. Wo know that some .years ago, when our Power Boards were appointed and the country consumers of electricity were rated very heavily to pay for their electrical installations, a large number of such consumers found that the only nay they could get anything like value was by using electricity for every conceivable purpose. To do this many ol them purchased electric ranges, heaters irons, and other household electrical appliances. But those times wore times of prosperity as compared to the present, and if the City Council is foolish enough to endorse the recommendation of the Gas Committee then instead of the people purchasing gas ranges, heaters, etc., there is much more chance of our coal merchants benefiting at the expense of our gas department. Wc do not wish onr coal merchants any harm, but what wc do require is Cheap Gas. September 26.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir —One of your correspondents in last night’s issue asks what is wrong with the present gas charges. As chairman of the Gas Committee I am able to inform him that they are inequitable, and are becoming unworkable because the consumer who uses gas freely for his various domestic requiremqents is saddled with the loss entailed by the consumer who is using gas only as an occasional convenience. In prosperous times this burden may not be seriously felt, but at the present time it threatens to become a menace to the financial stability of the gas department; hence the decision of the Gas Committee, which is actuated by a desire to administer the affairs of the department with justice and equity to all concerned. —I am, etc., F. ,(. Wilkinson*, Chairman of Gas Committee. September 27.