MR KENNEDY'S RESIGNATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1844, 19 June 1920, Page 5

MR KENNEDY'S RESIGNATION.

TWENTY-TWO YEARS IN PALMERS

TON NORTH

The news published in yesterday's issue ! of the "Standard" that Mr M. J. Kennedy' had resigned the position of manager' of tlio muiu'cipal gasworks in Palmerston North, was a surprise to most residents of the town. Ho has been offered, and has accepted, the oflico of secretary _of the, Wei-;. lington Gas, Company, but it is as yet uncertain when he will up his noWf,pps> tion, and the date will be made to,;; suit the convenience of the Borough Council, The company with which Mr Kennedy is to be associated is an important one, having % subscribed capital of £650,0C0, of which £320,0C0 is paid up, the turnover being about £200,000 per annum. Mr Kennedy was educated at Greymouth, and afterwards served his apprenticeship in mechanical engineering shops in ton and Wellington. Later he went to

Fngland, and was employed by the firm oi Messrs J. and J. Braddock, gas engineers, of Oldham. Receiving an appointment with the Perth Gas Company, West Australia, he resided there for a short period, being appointed somo 22 years ago secretary and manager of the Palmerston North Gas Company. Ho held that position until,the Company told to the Borough Council in 1915, and since then he has continued tc hold a similar position in the municipal gas undertaking. During tho long 1 period in which Mr Kennedy was associated with tho Company the directors had often shown their appreciation of his services, and when the Council took over the business the Company presented him with a cheque for £4OO, the chairman of directors (Mr J. H. P. Strang) also referring to Mr Kennedy's long and faithful Be r vice.

Mr Kennedy is an old member of the Institute of Gas Engineers of London, and has been a Fellow of the Registered Society of Accountants of New Zealand sinco its inception. The Kennedy family, has been well-known for many years in connection with the gas industry in New Zealand. His father, Mr James Kennedy, is at present manager of the municipal gasworks at Greymouth, a position that ho lias held for the past 34 years. His brother. Mr F. Kennedy, after being connected with tho gas industry in Manchester r.nd Montreal, has recently been appointed treneral manager for America for Wests' Gas Company, of Manchester, England, having bis headquarters in New York. Mr and Mrs Kennedy have a large circle of friends in Palmerston North, who will regret to learn of their impending departure. He is one of the oldest residents holding a responsible public position here, and although inducements were held out to him to remain, he has decided to accept

the now position offered to him. Both lip and Mrs Kennedy have been prominent workers for St. Church, Mr Kennedy having boon secretary of the committee of the church for many years past.' Two of his sons are at present pupils of St. Patrick's College, Wellington. Yesterday afternoon Mr Kennedy assembled the employees at the gasworks and informed them that ho was severing his connection with the loo.il works. % General regret was expressed at his decision, and tho employees wished him all success in tho future.

It is interesting to note that when Mr Kennedy first came to Palmorston North tho office of the Gas Company was a littlo building 10 feet by. 12 feet situated at the works opposite the railway station, from which it was transferred in 1908 to tho present: buildings in Broad street. Tho total staff in 1898 was eight persons, while to-day tlioro are about three do?en employees of tho gas department. In 1898 the total output of gas was 7,000,000 foot in a year, while now it is more than that amount monthly, and is over 100,000.000 cubic feet per year. The number of con•suhiers then was 450, while now it is 3500. and the street lamps then totalled 46 as against 324 now. The revenue also, has risen from £2OOO to £53,000 per year. As showing the increased cost, of gas making-

it might bo mentioned that in 1898 the cost of New Zealand coal landed in Palmerston North was £1 0s 2d per ton, while now it is £2 10s, and Newcastle coal then cost £1 15s per ton as against about £4 10s at

the present time. In 1898 the charge for. £Tis was 12s 6d per 1000 feet «s against tho present price of 7s lid per 1000 feet.