ELECTRICITY AND GAS CHARGES IN OAMARU

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22256, 8 May 1934, Page 8

ELECTRICITY AND GAS CHARGES IN OAMARU

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Much criticism has been levelled at the Waitaki Electric Power Board of late, but I have nothing but praise for its method of conducting business, and its latest decision to increase the rate of discount to 25 per cent, to all household consumers is much appreciated. But what a contrast do we find in our local gasworks? When I saw in the Daily Times of Friday last that the Oamaru Borough Council, after a very successful year with its gas department, had decided to make a reduction in its chargee, but only to those consumers using 10,000 cubic feet ot ga» per month, I felt, to say the least, utterly disgusted. Why should not this reduction apply to all consumers—to the small consumer who is really the backbone of the whole system as well as to the larger one? . I wa? surprised that no word was uttered in protest when this iniquitous proposal came before the full council, but this august body has recently been turned into a mutual admiration society. If the gas department makes a profit of £IOOO per year I contend that the proper course should be to -return half of this sum in the shape of discounts to all its customers and not to a privileged few. , During the past week a deputation qt citizens went before this same council soliciting a donation of £2OO towards the purchase of an area of land for a scenic reserve. I am not against this proposal, but I am just wondering if this £2OO will be obtained from the big ratepayers who will get the gas discount or if the small ratepayer will be given the privilege of paying?—l am, etc., Oamaru, May 7. . Consistent.