MUNICIPAL GAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 2

MUNICIPAL GAS

LOSS ON YEAR’S WORKING. LARGE LEAKAGE DISCLOSED. The revenue accounts and balance sheet of the Masterton Municipal Gas Department for the year ended March 31, 1942, disclosed a loss on the year’s working of £1296 5s 4d to which was added sinking fund payments amounting to £lOl4, making a total deficit of £2310 5s 4d which was offset by the rate payments amounting to £2245 6s. This position was disclosed at last night’s meeting of the Masterton Borough Council. Councillor' W. Kemp drew attention to the leakage of gas, as indicated in the gas manager’s report. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan: “There is an unexplained loss of gas, running from 14 to 20 per cent. This is common to most gas undertakings.” He added that the average loss was about 14 per cent. Councillor G. W. Morice: “This is a lot more than that. It is 16 or 17 per cent.” Councillor Kemp said he noted from the gas manager’s report that the working costs were cut down to a minimum. The gas manager, Mr J. Y. Douglas, gave an assurance that everything possible was being done to check the leakage . The replacement of certain pipes was held up by war conditions.