LIGHTING CHARGES

Southland Times, Issue 19772, 21 February 1923, Page 6

LIGHTING CHARGES

PROPOSED REDUCTIONS PASSED.

The proposed reductions in the charges for electricity recommended by the Gas, Water and Trams Committee were passed by the Town Council at its meeting last night. When the clause came up Councillor Glass congratulated the Committee upon the reductions which brought the charges to the same level as those of the Power Board.

Councillor Lennie said that he was afraid that with so many reductions in the charges for electricity the Gasworks sales would suffer. They should not lose sight of the fact that the Gasworks was also a municipal trading concern, and if the prices for electricity were reduced much lower they would not be able to sell any gas. Councillor Macalister was of the opinion that they should, so far as the electricity charges were concerned, concentrate upon the reduction of lighting charges and keep the power and cooking charges high so the.t there would be no danger of the gas not being sold.

Councillor Mackrell, in answer to the foregoing speakers, said that even at. the prices quoted electricity could not compete with gas for cooking. He went on to say that the Council should endeavour to induce firms to throw out their steam plants by giving them electricity at a cheap rate. The Engineer had informed him that during the night hours electricity could be supplied at a very cheap"rate at a profit. The clause was then put and carried.