ANOTHER VICTIM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9755, 3 September 1917, Page 3

ANOTHER VICTIM

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” Sir, —I bare boon ivatching with interest the correspondence on the gas question in your columns. Like others 1 have boon a victim of overcharges for both past and present months loi-n-hat I consider at least 75 per cent. The company reduced last month’s accounts by lu per cant., still leaving 65 per cent, ovci charge. If a man sells short-weight butter or bread he is soon up against it, but the Gas Company As apparently above and beyond the law. The rich man or the man with his own house can, and has in many cases, promptly installed electric light, but the worker in a rented house has no redress. If lie does not burn the gas at all, I take it that he will still be billed for the air that runs through bis pipes, and he has to sit quietly down and thank the powers that lie that be gets a 10 per cent, reduction. What a source of revenue! Why, oh, why. Sir Joseph, did this escape you when you brought forward your masterly Budget; Ts 6d per 1000 cubic feet of air, and you could have given a 35 per cent, reduction and then had a splendid amount with which to subsidise Sir James’s staff officers with? Trusting that if Sir Joseph takes advantage -t this source of revenue he will remember "the man who burns a kerosene lamp but pays for air” who suggested it.—l am, etc., FILIXJS POPUU.