MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20639, 11 August 1930, Page 7

MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

AN INCREASE IN SALES. USE OF DOMINION COAL. Stead}' business was icported by the majority of gas companies in the nonunion during the last, financial year. Gas sales over the whole Dominion showed ' an increase of 3 per cent, in quantity ana value, while revenue and expenditure rose by 2 per cent.. There are 46 works in New Zealand, and the numbet ot persons engaged during the year ended March 31, 1930. was 452,283, as against 464,]22 ill the previous year The production of BJ. "7 0 3 437,132,000 cubic feet in _ 3,528.404.00(3 cubic feet, while the pi ice o sold showed a similar percentage in "aM. in* -E1.2-14.652 to £1,276.232 lite consumption oj coke increased by 1..07 tons to 79,606 tons. More tar was produced, but ihe value showed a decline of 25 per cent. The striking feature of the returns is the large iucreast n the quantity of Now Zea|llUl coal used and the corresponding de dine in imported coal. The amount of New Zeaiand coal employed increased from 132 900 tons in 1920. to 184,691 tons, an advance ot 39 pet cent. Imported coals rocedec! by 51 per cent., the quantity consumed 'being 42.882 tons, as against 87 925 tons the previous year. The price was also slightly more favourable, the total cost ol coal, £460,8/2, representing a fall of 4 per cent.