The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1908. MUNICIPAL GAS SUPPLY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 7 September 1908, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1908. MUNICIPAL GAS SUPPLY.

Although, taken as a whole, Wanganui lias reason to be well pleased with the results which have followed the municipilisation of the gas supply, the consumers have never been given the full measure of benefit which they ought to have derived from the enterprise. Gas is certainly cheaper than it was before; the Corporation undertook the control of the service. Further than that, it must be conceded that the price charged for gas. in Wanganui compares favourably with the prices" obtaining in other centres. Nevertheless,- the fact "remains that our gas is not; so^-cheap as it ought to be/and that it never will be so long as a large part of the profits continue to be allocated in relief of rates. We have from-the first contend--ed that the true principle on which this important public service should be run is that,of charging the lowest rates compatible with efficient service, proper conditions of employment, and the necessary sinking and other funds. What can be ..achieved in the matter of .a cheap and good commodity is instanced by a world's, record established by the town of Widnes, an incorporated borough near by Liverpool-with a population of over 28,000, in the way of gas supply. From the "Toronto World," which quotes from "The London Municipal Journal," we learn that the town of Widnes made a profit of 20,000 dollars out of its gas undertaking last year, and that owing to cheaper coal the surplus is expected^to be inereasedv by 15,000 dollars, at the end of rent year. Acting on this estimate, the town council has decided to reduce the net price of gas to ordinary consumers from 30 cents to' 28 cents per thousand cubic feet, the charge to consumers of over 5M,00pV 7 cubiA,f^t: i 0,24: cents>and for motive power vto. 2Q cents. Consumers1 who use slot machines will get, an ivdditiibnal -/s'ixyfefet^itf jgas; for : their 2^ cents, making fßo : "iqubic feedt in ; all. ,These :are very.remarkable figures fprcoal £;as and testify-to; very excellent ' management. Widnes a striking;exainpl^ of what /3an:be <|c^ie for-the public by municipal that follow-the rule of conducting their, services, not to make profits in aid-ol but in^h^ itftie^st of the oonsuniers,; Ancl'th%ppin^s that business efficiency can do; .the same thing for ; any municipality^-^oiLocal consumers will easily see that saioe-«quit-;'a bio, principie were' to 3b^ applied Here *hp pricQ of gas^ould |e;mMferia.lly riaduced, if hot to -an extent wnich' wc-uic|' rival the Widnes record, certainly to a point which wouljiopihp: very near fo: enabKng v'Wanganlii;';to':eptablish. a .cok onial record. But it ,js no|i with the making or breaking .of records that' w0 are concerned:1 J Ourcofitention is that th*e appropriation of jgas profits to the relief of rates is inequitable, and that the consumers—out of whose pockets the profits are drawn—are entitled to much greater consideration than they have so. far received: The Widnes example, against which we have stumbled accidentally, serves tjo justify this contention andvto demoi^^^^th4 rb^e^ fits ,Avhich* result from the proper observance of the true principle of municipilisation. ; =~-., , r ... .. "' '/, ,y'-' "