PRICE OF GAS HAS BEEN RAISED IN WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 July 1950, Page 4

PRICE OF GAS HAS BEEN RAISED IN WANGANUI

To meet an estimated deficiency of £25,314 in the current period the Wanganui City Council, at a special meeting last night, decided to increase the price of gas.

The decision wai made as the result of a report from the Gas Committee, which met on Mdnday night, and the recommendation was submitted with the utmost reluctance. It follows a step taken by works in other centres. The following naw tariff rate will come into operation as from July 31.

The new scale of charges, like the old, is graduated according to the minimum and maximum amounts of gas used. Under the old scale users of a minimum if 500 cubic feet a month were charged Ils per 1000 cubic feet. Under the new scale consumers using It minimum of 500 cubic feet a month will bo charged 13s 4d per 1000 cubic feet. Consumers using up to 1000 cubic feet a month were charged 10s 9d per 1000 ft. under the old scale. They also will now do charged 13s 4d per 1000 cubic feet. All other groups in the scale adopted by the City Council will be cnargea as follows, the old price being given in parentheses in each case:—lloo to 3000 cubic feet per month, 13s 4d (10s 3d); 3100 to 10,000, 12s 6d (10s); 10,100 to 20,000, 12s (9s 6d); 20,100 to 50,000, Ils 9d (9s 3d); 50,100 to 100,000, Ils 6d (9s); 100.100 to 125,000 Ils 3d (8s 9d); over 125,000, 10s 6d (8s). Domestic storage: First 2000 cubic feet, 13s 4d (9s £d); the remainder 7s 6d (6s 6d) Separate nieters for water heating only. 10s 6d (8s). Slot meters, 13s 4d (10s 9d). The following statement was given by the chairman of the gas committee (Mr. R. P. Andrews) with the authority of the council:— “The increased gas charges recommended by the gas committee, said Cr. Andrews, “are in keeping with those imposed by practically every gas undertaking in the Dominion, and the average increase of 27 per cent, on all rates does no more than meet the additional charges on coal, wharfage and freights introduced since the lifting of subsidies. “The subsidies have affected the gas undertaking to the following extent: On coal, 30s a ton, shipping freights 7s £d a ton, and increase in rail freights 2s 6d a ton.” “The action of the council in agreeing to stocks of coal being built up.

to the extent of 2000 tons has benefited the consumers by delayng price increases of ar amount of £4000.” “It is a matter for regret to the gas committee to have to recommend these increases, but circumstances have arisen which make no other course possible.”