GAS CHARGES.

Evening Star, Issue 21219, 28 September 1932, Page 9

GAS CHARGES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —On reading over the above letters in the ‘ Star ’ last night the thought struck me that it is about time the present council should be replaced with a Labour council —men who would have some sympathy for the working class. The: ; big man always gets the best end of the stick. Some of the present council have been far too long there. We need a change badly. Another point: Half the people will have no further use for gas at that price.— I am, etc., Ratepayer. September 27.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lf the letter appearing in tonight’s ‘ Star ’ over the name of the chairman of the Gas Committee is in

defence of the proposal to come before the council regarding gas charges, then I consider it a miserable failure. I fail to see how the present charges are inequitable when everyone pays according to the amount consumed. He says that the present charges are becoming unworkable, because the consumer who uses gas freely for his various domestic requirements is saddled with the loss entailed by the consumer who is using gas only as an occasional convenience. This seems to me a most peculiar statement, as people will use gas only as they require to do, so I don’t see where the occasional convenience comes in. A person consuming 5,000 ft may make an occasional convenience of a heater in a room. The chairman goes on to say: “ In prosperous times this burden may not be serioulsy felt, but at the present time it threatens to _ become a menace to the financial stability of the gas department.” I think I can use his own words here, and tell him that the proposal threatens to become a menace to the finances of the struggling, small consumer. After reading the proposal I am afraid that either the chairman or myself fail to understand the meaning of the words justice and equity. Worked out to its logical conclusion, the contents of the chairman’s letter would lead one to believe that the man who goes into an hotel anti consumes four pints of beer should get it at a cheaper rate than the man who consumes one, or that the person entering a chemist’s shop and purchasing four bottles of medicine, say at 2s 6d each, should receive four bottles at a cheaper rate than one. But this is not the case; you pay according to the amount consumed. in conclusion_ 1 think the ratepayers should be put wise as to the instigators and supporters of the inequitable proposal, as the vote of the small consumer is just as valuable as that of the large one on polling day. —I am, etc., Taxpayer. September 27.

TO THE EDITOR. » Sir,—l would like to ask the Gas Committee two questions. First, is it not a fact that a large concern in this city purposes to change over to gas fires provided such a change can be economically effected, and has this fact not greatly influenced the Gas Committee? Second, under the proposed alterations business firms whose meters are read monthly will pay Is fid per visit? Why should the ordinary householder have to pay 2s 6d for the same service? —I am, etc., State the Facts.

September 28. [The payment is given as Is fid for each service.—Ed. E.S.]

tO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It seems the Gas Committee has been giving considerable thought to gas charges, it is not gas charges members of the committee should look at, but whether they are giving as serious thoughts to council business as their own. Wages reduced, interest reduced, and certainly not any reduction in rent, and the Gas Committee raising the price of gas! The committee ought to give considerable thought how to help to reduce the cost of living; but if its increased charges come into force my meter conies out. I believe it stated that other centres charged meter rents, but it is not so in Christchurch. In fact, meter rents may be charged in some places, but I have never hoard of it. Some time ago I wrote to you on the difference between Dunedin and Christchurch prices of electricity, and Dunedin came out a very bad second. Let any users of electricity remember when next they receive their accounts