The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-03 00:00:00

THE GAS QUESTION.

Mr. Newuaru said at the last meeting he
mauled, or rather gave notice that he should
bring before that meeting the subject of the
price of gas charged to the consumers in this
town, with a view of obtaining from the Direc-
tors, if poseible, a reduction in the price. At
the last meeting, one of the gentlemen said he
did not consiiier it the dutj of the Conanie•
eionere to take the matter ihto emisideratioe, lot
that it lay with the constituent. Mr. NeIN name
then read the 34th and 87th sections of toe Act
einpueering tee Commiesioners to act in the
matter. tie brought the matter before theni
thinking it was a matter that should be brought
before them. There was no gentleman who
would wish the Directors to settle the gas ques-
tion in this town at a pecuniary loss to them-
selves. He maintained, however, that it was
the duty of the Directors to reduce the price of
gas. They had every facility fir making it
cheap. inc canal and tee railway were both
close to the works, and he thought they ought
to have the gas an cheap as they have it in other
towns in toe neighbourhood. At 'Wolverhamp-
ton it is supplied at 2* 7d per thousand feet; at
DieLey from 8s lid to Se II ; Worcester, Rea-
m:ewe, and Brainerd do lid ; at Weaneebury mutt
Darla,tou 2e 53 and 2* 7d, with 5 per cent. on
tur earn ; at Tipton, lee; at Wakefield, in York-
seire it is tle ; at Walsall it is 2, 43 and 2s 63.
At liidderminster, which is further reuntree
trom the coal held of South Staffordshire, aim
enjoyiug tar lees facilities for the manufacturl
ox gas than are possessed bete, they can supply
gas to tee town at 3s ad and 3s 73, and it is said
that with this price the company have been
i enabled to exteud their works at a cost ot
£20,000. The Corporation, been% bought the
works have been enabled to exteau their work,
at a cost of £20,000. In Manchester and Wale
sell, where the as works are in the hands oi the
Counuieeionere, the results are far more eats-
teeter) than in any town with which he was ac-
quiduted, arid ere such as to convince all corpo-
retious maid cummissioners throughout the
kingdom us to the advisability of taking the
supply of gas into their own hands. This would
secure to the consumers loot ouly a supply 01
cheep and pure gas, but also ill giving to the
toemi the profits to be uerived frotu the same.
'Last year the corporation of Manchester real-
ised froum their gas works a gross prolit uf
'£nl,isli 10s Si, which alter paying interest—
,
-tame 84 los bct, arid liquidating the mortgage
dein to the extent if £e4,484 Gs, left a eurplue
of £2141 lls, cinch coo set abide bodily for
iwprumewtht purposes. There the gas is solo
ails 23 per tiemsaud feet. In Walsall, where
gas is soma at 2s -Id and 2s tid per 1,000 feet the
net profit of the gas wurite curing the past year
is £1,149 Is 13, after spending £1,036 Os Id in
ullargittg and improving their works,- and with
this low price charged the Commissioners have
beeu enubleu to pay off £28,000 of the £40,0i51
originally borrowed to put up their works, so
that in every short time the gas works, worth
£40,000, will be the property of the ratepayers.
aume interested persons in connection with
other gas works in the district, have brought
forward some arguments to occount for this low
price charged fur gas in Walsall by stating that
in order to make up the deficiency in the lie-
(monis of the borough, the cousuwers outside
tele town are charged fur gas at a much higher
rate per 1,000; but on enquiry, and a perusal of
the published accounts I find this statement per-
fectly untrue. It has also been asserted that
time illuminating power of the gas in this town is
tar below what it should be, but I can bear testi-
mony- to the contrary. On tee sth of November
the gas was testeu at Walsall in my presence,
and it was quite equal to 11 sperin candles upon
toe usuai Oasis ot calculation. Hl/ thought from
the eke.' figure.. the Directors would be able ti
reence 'the price of gas, especially if the took
constiteretiou the fact that the town wee
very compact, and ri quired no very great length
of MIDI,. In conclusion he moved " That the
Clerk au wine to the Directora to ask them on
behalf of the consumer, of the town to reduce
the price of gas. '
Mr. McEwen said he did not think Stour.
l,ridge bore any comperison with larger toe lIS
where larger mom:titles of gas were consumed ;
out thought we ought to he supplied with gas at
tie saute price are other towns Similar to Stout--
bridge ; and concluded by seconding the propo-
sition.

Mr. Hughes asked Mr. Newnam if he referred
to him in hio opening remarks.

Mr. Newnuma: Ye; I understood you to say
it was uot the duty of the Commissioners to in-
terfere; bat the consumers.

Mr. iluglues said he was not opposed to them
in trying to get a reduction ; for he believed the
company could supply gas at a very much
cheaper rate than they were now doing.
Mr. Newnan' said he was quite sure they could
reduce the price Is per thousand, and still re-
ceive a ,iividend of seven and ft half per cent.,
anti le tve niee margin to meet all contingent
expenses.

Maginnis said he did not eonk,ider himself
in a po•ttion to give ao opinion on
:he q i tion with 101 inr.n.4natioa bf.foro theta ;
Ill!C! 01. ,• • • "n) iti•,!•o•r ho refvir.44l
• •rxet intorinfttion, eon-
. , : . port on it at the next
.ii enquiry they folool that 4-41,6
4.440 H 4i,d to theol at a cheap. r rate than
they wer.. 4, ;laying, he ehoudd voto for it to
be done.

shier

Tue Chairman remarked that he fell in with
the ime views 08 Mr. 3laginnis. He was much
übled to Mr. Nwniu fr paiva he had
take iii m king th, had, but
thought Mame they had decided upon what steps
to take they should make the most exhaustive