CITY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 23273, 23 May 1939, Page 15

CITY COUNCIL

rC.'.THISHTLY MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night. Present were the mayor (Mr A. hi. Allen), Crs I). C. Cameron, J. Wilson, M. C. Henderson, It. Walls, J. W. Munro, M.P., J. M'Crae, IT. L. Gibson, W. H. Taverner, K. ,J. Smith, and W. H. Borne. BEPIIESENTATION ON Flint BOA HD. The Department of Internal Allah's wince tftat the biennial election of members of tire hoaids womd be held this month, and asked the council to elect three representatives on the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board. Crs Taverner, bcott, and Wilson were elected. Besides these three councillors, Mr M. Silverstone (at present on the board) was nominated. CHEAPER GAS. The effect of the reduction in the charges will mean that after £1 worth ot gas nas been consumed in two months the 5s rate will operate,” said Cr M'Crae, moving the adoption of the Gas Committee’s recommendation that the present consumption of 2,500 cubic feet a month required before a domestic consumer was entitled to the secondary Irate be reduced to 1,600 cubic feet a month. The report stated that at present these consumers were charged at the rate of 6s 3d per thousand cubic feet for the first 2,500 cubic feet consumed per month, and then at the rate of 5s per thousand cubic feet for all gas consumed in excess of this figure. This reduced secondary rate had proved most valuable in obtaining greater consumption amongst the larger domestic consumers, but its field of usefulness was limited because only a small proportion used as much as 2,500 cubic feet per month. The domestic consumption was the most profitable field of expansion, as no further capital expenditure was required for services or meters. It was estimated that the alteration proposed would mean a temporary reduction in revenue of £I,OOO per year, but by giving a much wider field for development it was anticipated that the policy proposed would prove profitable to the department by allowing greater development among the smaller domestic consumers.

Cr M'Crae, who pointed out that the domestic user of gas was well treated compared with other centres, where the rate was higher, said that when the last reduction was made there was an increase in the consumption by 8,000,000 cubic feet. Instead of there being a loss there was an increase in the profits amounting to thousands of pounds. The new rates would be very much appreciated by the smaller consumer. Cr Wilson: It would have been better if there had been an all-round rate of 5s 6d. Cr Taverner said that, though be was not opposed to a reduction, he asked the chairman how it was proposed to get an increase from the domestic consumer, He agreed with Cr Wilson that the reduction should be made an allround one.

The Mayor pointed out that it would be a difficult matter to make an allround reduction. There were thousands of consumers who did not use enough gas to pay for the installation of the meters. Cr M'Crae said the gas manager had proved quite conclusively that the os 6d rate would be an impossibility. He had recommended 7s instead of 6s 3d. The committee had to tread very warily over this matter, which was in the nature of an experiment. The recommendation was approved. HOUSING TENDER.

The council accepted the tender of T. 11. Thomson, amounting to £I,OBO, for the erection of a dwelling under the council’s housing scheme.