BOROUGH GAS DEPT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1944, Page 8

BOROUGH GAS DEPT.

ANNUAL REPORT. The Gas Manager (Mr. A. J. Fairmaid) presented the following report for the year ended March 31, 1944, to a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last evening:— ~ Total wages have more than doubled in the last 10 years, individual earnings having been in accordance with Arbitration Court awards. The increase has been almost £3OOO, or 102 per cent, of the wages paid for 1933-34, employees having increased from 12 to 16, principally on account of the introduction of the 40-hour week. Office work occasioned by increased business has been met by modification of office routine and by mechanisation. Outside staff hours show a small increase, but the volume of work has increased at a greater rate by reason of increased sales of gas spread over a much greater number of appliances calling for efficient service, to render which at least one other employee is required. Increase in retort house staff arises from the former 56-hour week of the stoker as compared with the 40 hours of today. , , Maximum capacity of the present plant is approached during Winter months, Summer demand being but two-thirds of that. Increased manufacturing capacity can be delayed by increased storage capacity, which would be required in any case. The smaller holder was originally built for the later addition of a second lilt, which would increase storage by one-third, but would not then bring total capacity to maximum daily demand. whereas some recommend storage for 48 hours. This second lift would probably cost £2OOO. By the Utting of anti-dip pipes to settings the capacity of the existing plant could be stepped up by 1000 cubic feet per ton of coal carbonised. Any improvement of the existing plant would include those and fitting now would take care of normal increase for about two years, the next step being the construction of one or two further settings of six retorts, the cost of the anti-dip pipes probably being £5OO and of each new setting £l5OO. The alternative is new carbonising plant, intermittent vertical chamber ovens, or horizontal settings, either mechanically operated. Addition to the existing plant would entail employment, of additional retort house hands, but either of the alternative types of new plant would be operated throughout the year by not more than the normal Summer retort house staff. The cost of the new plant suggested is not available but would be forthcoming were the work actually in prospect. , , The character of the demand has so changed since the Grey Electric Power Board came into operation that, although the total consumption is now but little more than then, the reticulation system is inadequate in some areas. Formerly, the largest consumers were the Waterworks Pumping Station and street lighting. A large part of the consumption increase of recent years is domestic and the system is severely taxed to maintain adequate pressure in some residential areas. To improve matters, steps already taken have been the 8-inch main laid from Lord Street to High Street bridge and the 6-inch main laid in Mackay Street. Further improvement calls for extension of the 8-inch main from High Street bridge along High Street to opposite Marsden Road, with a 6inch branch across the Recreation Ground to Marsden Road and a 4inch branch down Buccleugh Street to Cowper Street. In the AlexanderMurray Street area improvement would be effected by a 6-inch main carried through Gas Works land to Tainui Street and thence by Puketahi and Alexander Streets to the intersection of the latter with Murray Street. Weakness in the Cobden area would, for some years, be remedied by the installation of a governor near the Cobden quarry, gas to be supplied to that governor at full holder pressure. The 8-inch main southwards could be utilised in like manner. Arrangements have already been made at the Works to give such supply after governors have been fitted, but those latter improvements cannot be fully effective without adequate manufacturing and storage facilities. The estimated cost of the above mentioned proposals is as follows: Extention of 8-inch main, High Street, £898; Marsden Road branch, £184;. Cowper Street branch, £161; Puketahi Street branch, £690; governor on Cobden supply, £lOO. In the above estimates no provision is made lor governors other than on the Cobden supply. The report was received. The Engineer was authorised to procure a governor for the Cobden supply and to make enquiries regarding availability of supplies of 8-inch piping tor High Street. MONTHLY REPORT. The Gas Manager’s monthly report stated that the cash receipts for June totalled £1485/18/4 against £1621/4/9 in the corresponding month of last year, a decrease of £135/6/5. Receipts for the period from March 31, 1944, to June 30, 1944, totalled £3841/14/4, compared with £4477/7/7, a decrease of £635 13/3. It was stated that an apparent drop in receipts for residuals and fittings to June was accounted for by an inter-departmental payment of £5Bl/8/- made for tar in May of last year on account of tar used prior to March 31 of that year. Having regard to that the actual net deficit was £54/5/3 for the three months of this year. Nine appliances valued at £142/15/- were installed. The report was approved.