PRICE OF GAS RAISED

Nelson Evening Mail, 5 April 1917, Page 4

PRICE OF GAS RAISED

B'T 3d A THOUSAND "FEET

At the meeting -of tho City Council last evening the Finance Committee reported that owing, to the increase in the. cost of labour and material it has become imperative that the price of gas should be raised. The Committee therefore recommends that as from the Ist April, 1917, tho price of gas should be as follows, namely, 8s 4d per 1000 feet, gross discount 2s 3d, net 6s Id. They further recommends that no discount be allowed until all arrears have been paid. It was resolved that the Cfas Holder Committee report as to the guide standards of the new holder, which it was reported were not perpendicular. The Gas Engineer explained the position, and said that it would take 15 days to put the standards right. Cr. Wcblcy moved that the clause re price of gas be deferred for a month. He was sorry to say that the gas was not satisfactory, and the matter of increasing tho price should be postponed for a time. If the Council did not have a monopoly of the business it would bo sheer madness to put up the price. Ho had every confidence in Mr Neil, but lie considered it was tip to him that he snould put every ounce into giving a, more satisfactory gas. He must say that Mr Neil had not had a fair show at the works. Cr. Webley said he had recently been to Wellington, where the gas left no room for complaint. In. Wellington they did not wait for complaints to be made on written forms. Cr. Watson seconded. -Cr. Webley's motion

The Mayor said the gas was being sold at the price of production—perhaps a little less. Coal, previously 21s.a ton, had gone up to 28s. It would not matter much if the question was postponed for a month. Cr. Pitt said with the increase in cost of coal and wages there -must be an increase in the price of gas. Cr. Harrison said the matter might b* settled at odcc —the increase must b# made.

(Jr. Watson said a. great many, consumers had a. grievance at the present time. To raise the price just now was adding insult to injury. The matter should be held over till the new holdier was in use, when it was hoped thero would be better gas. The Mayor said the price should, be increased, and he was prepared to vot» for an increase-. The proposed increase was less than he considered necessary, but the majority of the Finance Committee hadi fixed the price. He said there was wholesale grumbling' about the gas, which was justified. He had to use candles at his own place, at other j) laces he knew of had to do the same. The gas wa s exceedingly bad at the present time. Mr Neil said the gas. "was not worse than it had ever been before, as had been stated. If one man could get/a o-ood light then all should get a good iifht If the gas was properly consumed there would be no trouble. The quality of the gas supplied in Wellington yb&a not so good as that in Nelson. Cr. Webley. asked if at . some - houses the meter was too small for the' number of lights? N Mr .Neil said there was a good deaJ in the point raised, and also in regard to the fittings. But in Nelson it would not pay to put in. say, 10-light meters. t'r. Mercer asked if the automatic lighting was a success? ' ... , "Mr Neil said it -was'hot a success as at* present worked, but, he was taking action in the matter. (Jr. Webley said he believed the_auto? matic lighting was for a o-bod deal of the unaccounted for gas. He had seen lamps burning,in the middle of the. day. . Cr Webley's motion was lost—Ayes (3) Crs. Watson, Pitt and Webley; Nqea (4) Crs.' .Mercer, Robertson, Harrison, and the Mayor.. , ~ ■ „i ! Cr (Harrison .moved that tho mcreasa be sd, instead of 3d, as it would make the reading of the meters easier. , :v ' •Or. Pitt seconded the motion. . , . ; Or. Webley said that if. the reason for the motion was only to make the reading of the meters easier the Council would not be justified in. making the in-. crease sd. .>-. ''V „ut The Mayor said the Committee considered 5d was too much of. an u> The motion was not put, and the rewort was declared to be adopted. •... Cr Harrison drew . the Mayors, at tention to the fact.that."his motipn,had not'been put, but stated that he <Ji? not mind. ■ '■. . -.•'■■ >