THE GAS COMMITTEE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 135, 5 June 1909, Page 8

THE GAS COMMITTEE.

RECOMMEND ATIONS BEFORE THE COUNCIL. The Gas Committee's - recommendations, held over from the last meeting of the Council, were dealt with last alight. GAS MANAGER'S SALARY. Councillor Birch,1 Chairman of the Gas Committee, proposed that the Gasworks Manager's salary be increased to £3 10s per week. In doing so he said the matter had been before the Council on many occasions, and most of the Councillors understood the position, and realised that the Gas Manager was very much underpaid as compared with those in charge of works of a. similar size in other parts of the Dominion. Ho felt sure that they were willing that the '-'labourer should be worthy of his hire." Councillor White, in seconding the motion, pointed out that the Council selected Mr Taylor from a number of applicants according to his testimonials. At that time the Council considered if Mr Taylor was a success it would raise his salary. The Manager, he thought, had shown in every way that he was worth an increase, and he knew of no principle, as far as employees were concerned, by which Mr Taylor's salary should not be raised. He had proved a successful, painstaking, competent man, as was evidenced by the plans he. had set forth and carried out against all opposition. Councillor White said he knew from previous experience that Mr Taylor's proposals would succeed. The Council would be wrong in not raising his salary. He reminded the Mayor that the question of raising the Gas Manager's salary was relegated to this Council by the old one, and he hoped the proposal would be carried. The motion was put and carried. SHOW ROOM.

Councillor Birch moved tha.t the Council call for tenders for the erection ot' a show-room, and that the show-room be given a twelve months' trial. He stated that the question had occasioned the Gas Committee from time to time a considerable amount of thought. It was no> new thing, and the Committee had gone into the pros and cans. A show-room was a very necessary thing for the Gasworks.' They desired to display their wares in a "proper manner, and it was not possible to do so unless a show-room was available. Consumers, when they went &> pay their gas accounts, frequency .inquired about the articles the Council stocked. They were very much in need of such a place, as* they bad nowhere to put their things. The estimated cost of erecting a .show-room was £120, and they had in hand £G9 from the loan. Jt vrAH proposed to make up the differonce out of revenue. They had everything they required iv the way of fittings, and if tho extra money needed was taken from revenue, the cost could be charged to the capital account. Tho amount charged to revenue could be transmitted back again to the fund from which it had come. It was desirable that they should improve their facilities as soon as it was possible to do so. A show-room would be an important branch of the Gasworks. The Council by not having a show-room was singular, as almost all works of any size had their show-room.

Councillor Priddlo seconded the motion. He said ho had gone into the matter fully during the past two or three weeks. At fir it he was opposed to the suggestion, but after going into ii he could see the necessity of it. He w;:s strongly of the opinion that Ij.v giving it a trial it would be the means of increasing the gas consumption. It was also absolutely necessary that rise Council should employ an ex]x»rt to look after the connections and Jiltings. IVoplo who went to the gas cfliee to \>uy their accounts would b:> attracted by tho manner in which tliti fittings would be displayed, which v.'juld probably lead to the sale -of souw. articles, which, when in use, would have the effect of causing more jj:is to be consumed. The recommentlaikr: was to give it a twelve mouths' trial. The £120 spent in the erection of t!v r-.om would not be thrown away an tlu> structure would be there for all iitsif. Tho room could be used for other purpose* if the show-rcom did nut prove a success.

Councillor Adams a-lied what the building would cost. Councillor Birch replied that it ■would cost £120. Councillor Adam.s asked what was tho stale of the (Jasworks finances. Councillor Birch said they were in a healthy state. Councillor Adams did not think they were in :i very heuJfhy state, when, there was a balance to debit of £10»l. Con: "iilor Hitc3t -. nd Councillor A':i][. (*vi<li-nily for^>t that a lot of i i."><\ L..d he •!> pa-^c-u that day, and i!...-» :"'!> ;>.i»l month't accounts for gas j> . 1 i> : been collected. ('■< •]* "j!! T.i ,i>>k('d wlut kind of a jr..,, , •:.,. Council prt/po-ved to build, :, I .. '.*>» ii t'u-re were any plans of tl.c '».].:>hn^. <"<■■:: • i. h>: Hiieh ■> i:d there were no (";,(:llur (rjrlinj: that before ii. ■ « .■ t-il 'iffided ujk>!i building a -? •'..-:«■.::! it -iiould ;]• L-:df n}Km what z\ ". .»■ ;.iiii:; to it with. He tltj'i/3." :iiat *-hotild b" placed before th- ('■'■isicji before it was asked to \ ol» ••[• :; t hi- piojw-al. Ho thotiglit i' -: »oi.M In' stockt-d -oiily with the pre*"ii* • 'if <»:i hand. ''-!_.'iJ!ur Carr did not *?e the i.'\- -.'■<■ ioi ihe buiithn,;. Ho would IjLv *j/ -<•*- tht- Comic i -.tart a localv. r! T .' iu4 «oik->. i»:-l thus break up j ii ■••.->:»*ji\ iv tin; trade. In all l/r*»t».i''j'i'y j^'opU* wo'ild be aljlo to w' v.'^r': <bnu> in \.h- town then in !►!.'• ■* eiidiii^ ovi-r to Wellington, ; - . - t-v>;. «i i-j'j'^ to have their <" ■' ;- j.. t jjjc'l t%> tinder present con<lr.f. • (V;»ifil!t>r Birch liked to 3. < !'..> . ••nil with tsi<- ratepayers' »i -::«-v :< it how far til" Council was i>j" • • .-liio^'etJier anotiier matter. 11 •. • ■ ■"■ Conn-!!- \:\ other places • '.ijio'ii'-i '<> do exactly \ : " ('».'itj! j»".»j/--<■(! to do, but ''■ i :a!3«-n m," .v.'l in ail prob- ..' * > vuW •!•,. C.j-:«cil. What <k»u: .' - Uirch -aid .\ :-> utter non- «?".<■• "« V'Vj'-vr-'! tut it i»as just j v' ;, ;. ,'// * . fda billet for A -?>.oil '.•;,:]«} a^o the Man ■ • -hi i'A ->, ii.* :o <Io that sort <-f "■ ' .■*.'] v :i-. <•)!,•■• ~iti>r»-d with '>'•;'■■ •>' ":Mtw»i .i:f,:;; . lie would i, •.":» ':• 'i"'-r- in toy.no -cc jf they <-y;;ki '. "'. ■ toj> i!»» f-<>tjr:ciJ. They had ?.«t }.j<! --•! «fj<]x>rii!iij* v of looking into 2: ;, , .'■::. f»ut b" \.<.-- jl<l see they >'ii • "' •- "■ v.' i>- ';; i!.v otht-r trad"-^ }:s •>- >■ *i<>-!\ to 11 lii'-h the Council i ■ ] '. '..'• ilr- c'ntM'i-';'-*! the >!unv--1 *i"1 I<[ .j!:Iv end :n a loss. f ;.< '•: I'.jt '.cr f.if^ired tile mot'i • • T*-- '|-i«-.*iyi! of a <■ how-room !.'-•' >• d ;::»/■] <li-i! of attention 3r • '"«•: -n^** >T -aim- 'j t> a f>-w : j '. ('■><.,}.' i;;-»rs h.j-1 been ?■" - f ''iv *:.-*y w:>- in 1o 4 -j *'• '* : n. 1 !:'■ i'i**Tf^t of the

ratepayers and for the good of the town. He was of the same opinion as other members with regard to what j had been said of the position. The Council had "always been led to believe that what the gas manager said was correct. Councillor Parker said he had been very dissatisfied with some of the work done by the gas men. He had smelt gas leakages in different places, and thought the Council should get a good man. He should not be engaged all the time fitting up brackets indoors. They would not allow him to cut prices. He could not see that it was going to hurt anyone, and he was in favour of giving the Gasworks a chance, as it was a legitimate branch of the business, and he thought the proposal should be carried out. Councillor White said he would certainly support the motion as far as the erection of a show-room was concerned. Councillor Carr interjected: "What commission are you going to get out of it? Don't you get some money out of that?" Councillor White said he understood from the motion he was supporting that the show-room would be erected out of the balance of the loan money in hand. He would sup- [ port the motion on the understanding that the expenditure was limited to what the Gas Manager asked for when the question was first mooted. Some Councillors had been speaking of a gasfitter. That was another question, and he could not see his way to support a motion for the Council to rush into competition with the gasfitters in the town. The Council should employ a gasfitter to repair its meters and do a good deal of other work in connection with the laying .of mains and such work as necessitated a skilled mechanic. , He did not think it wise to go into the business of gasfitting, and thought it too rash a step to take at once. Later on it would probably be found expedient to launch out into that busi- ; ness. The Gas Manager was a very enterprising man, and if the Council gave him an inch he would take ;an ell. Formerly he wanted the balance of the gasworks loan spent .on a show-room, but now it was double that. He was not in favour of spending any large amount.

Councillor Dodson said he was strongly opposed to the resolution, as he could not see where the Counr oil was going to reap any benefit .frond tho show-room. The gasworks were situated out'of the town, and. if they erected a show-room,'the,only people, who would go there would be those who go to pay their gas accounts. Those people who had not' been connected up would not go there, as had been contended by some Councillors who were supporters'of the motion, and that being so he could not see where the object of the showroom would be gained. With regard to engaging a fitter, he thought it a step in the wrong direction that the Council should try to do harm to any of the ratepayers in the town, particularly the gasfitters. If the people in Blenheim had been overcharged in the past it was their own fault. He did not* think the gasfitters had overcharged anyone, nor would they do so. He did not think the Council should enter into competition with the fitters to injure them. He would oppose the motion. Councillor Girling thought it desirable to have a show-room, and it would be a step in the right direction. He thought Councillor Dodson was incorrect when he said only the present consumers would visit the gasworks. Anyone who wanted connections for their houses would go to- the gasworks, and when they would be attracted by the display of fittings and the Council's wares generally. He was satisfied that the show-room was badly needed. He favoured the engaging of a fitter, and considered that it was legitimate for the Council to undertake the,work of putting fittings through houses. He believed in encouraging enterprise, so, long as the manager did not enter into unfair competition. Inquiries were continually being made for fititngs, and if the Council had the show-room and displayed the fittings in a proper way, a greater consumption of gas would follow, and it was from that direction that the Council looked for an increase. He thought the Council should have a fitter who understood his work well.

Tbe Mayor reminded Councillor Girling that he was speaking to a motion that was not before the meeting. Councillor Girling said he thought from the remarks of other Councillors that they were discussing the three proposals together. Councillor Penny favoured' the motion, and thought the Council should do its best in the direction of popularising tho town with gas. Councillor White proposed an amendment that the cost of the showroom should not exceed the balance I ol: tlm loan money, £70 or £80. A j room for that amount would be quite largo enough for the purpose for which it was required. Councillor Birch seconded the amendment pro forma. He was surprised at the remarks that had fallen from Councillor White, particularly those- referring to the Council's "rushing in." It was regrettable that Councillor White was not present at the last meeting of the Gas Committee, for had he been in his plaoe he would not have come to tne Council meeting and endeavoured to upset the whole thing, which had been carefully considered. The amendment was declared lost, but Councillor Carr called for a divis- j ion, which resulted as follows: — Ayes: Councillors White, Adams,! Dodson and Carr. Noes: Councillors Girling, Parker, Priddle, Penny, Birch and the Mayor. The motion was then put and carried. GASFITTER. Thf? recommendation that applications bo called for a competent gasfitter, who must be able to do all! indoor work, lay services and repair I meters, and be under the control of the manager, wages 10s per day; and j that tho fitting business be given a i twelve months' trial, was agreed to, after considerable discussion. The actual of the Gas Committee in purchasing a stock of fittings was confirmed. Tho Council decided that it could not accede to the Gas Committee's recommendation that Mr Dcs Forges' application for free gas be granted.