The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-18 00:00:00

TIIE CORPORATION GAS BILL.

Mr. Bontems, chairman of the special committee
appointed to watch the progress of the cdrporation
Gass Bill in Parliament, read the following report
of the committee of the House of Commons On the
bill and on the operation and results .c4f the Gas
Metropolis Act of 1860 :
« Your conamittekhavg inquired into tie working

of the 23 and 24 Vic., c. 125, regulating the supply
and quality of the gas provided by the 13 companies
to the metropolis, and have examined witnesses
from many large towns, as w.:llas the metropolis, in
various parts of the kingdom, viz., Manchester,
Edinburgh, Birmingham, Walsall, Plymouth,
Brighton, &c. They have found the illuminating
power greater, and the quality of the gas better
than in London, and the price cheaper to the con-
sumers. The illuminating power varied from 14
' sperm candles to 30 candles, whereas the power in
London is fixed at 12 candles for common gas, and
20 for cannel gas, by the Act 23 and 24 Vict. c. 125.
" The purification of the gas in the metropolis is
imperfect, and an excess of sulphur remains which
injurious to pictures, leather, metals, &c.
until Since
ce e
ntly
in
611 'Bah6naodt the
eo
instance reached the aemgoasuntof
is highly
whereasqualitypassingt ho fe whilstotdfhittevhi
the power
evcanotrdtw2si3ce
article
efa
of
fhd worse.
r 2, Vict.ths C.
ble2esn,
the price of gas to the consumers has been increased
companiesw
:per
cent. on their capital, the effect of the actwas to raise
the market value of their shares, and to increase the
rate of dividend until, as has been shown to the
satisfaction of your committee, every company in
the metropolis now pays 10 per cent. and many com-
panies have, in addition, paid large sums in the form
of back dividends, and have laid by reserve funds.
" Your committee is of opinion that the minimum
illuminating power should be increased, and the
maximum price reduced.
" That a chemical board of three members should
.
companies) uy at the expense of the gas the Secre-
for tlta_raetropoli,,
tary of State, to regulate the analysis
supplied to con-
and illuminating power of all gas s
sinners by the different gas companies,
be appointed from time to time)
with power
of the purity
to fix the mode and places for testing the gas, such
board to report to the Home Secretary.
" That every gas company should within its own
district, and at its own cost, provide and maintain,
in a convenient situation, at a distance of not less
than 1,000 yards from the works, a testing place,
and all proper materials, apparatus, machinery, and
instruments for testing the illuminating power and
purity of the gas by the public officer, and that such
testing place should be under the control and man-
agement of the local authority. That the gas com-
pany should be at liberty to send an officer to be pre-
sent at the testing by the public officer, but should
not interfere in such testing.
" That each gas company may have a separate
testing place in the same building, under their own
control, so as to be enabled to test the same gas at
the same time.

" That public officers for the purpose of testing
the illuminating power and purity of gas should be
appointed by the local authority—one for each dis-
trict.

" That such officers should he authorised to test
continuously, and report the result daily to the local
authority ; that every testing should be registered,
and not the average only.

" That a chief gas analyst should be appointed
by the local authority only to direct the operations
of the testing officers ; should receive daily reports,
and submit and report on them weekly to the local
authority.

" If any complaint be made by the company as to
the testing, there should be an appeal to the chief
analyst, whose decision should be final.

" The weekly report, if unchallenged, should be
conclusive as to the experiments made.
"That the expenses incident to the appointment
of such public officers should be paid by the local
authorities.

That the Metropolitan Board of Works be the
local authority outside the City, and the Commis-
sioners of Sewers within the City.
" That in the event of the local authority making
default in appointing such officers, for the period of
12 months, the Secretary of State shall have power
to appoint officers, charging the cost of the same on
the funds of the local authority.
"The power of making up former deficit divi-
dends for six years out of surplus profits acts in i
un-
ously to the public. Your caininittee recommend
that such power should be limited to three years.
44 That the losses to companies through neglect of
the directors or their officers, as instanced in the
case of the Great Central Gas Company in Wood
street, where damages were recovered amounting to
£25,000, with heavy law costs, were charged,on the
surplus profits, instead of the shareholders' dividends,
thus depriving the public of a reduction in the price
of gas supplied to it, and in fact making the con-
sumers answerable for the company's defaults.
" Your committee think the system of districts
should be continued, and with a view to the economy
of administration, and the convenience of the con-
sumers and of the public, that every facility should
be offered by Parliament for the further extension of
the system of regulated monopoly, either in the way
of the amalgamation of the several existing compa-
nies, or of the disposal of the interests of the several
companies in the metropolis to some body or bodies
representing the ratepayers of the metropolis, on
such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon,
and as Parliament may see fit to impose.
" Your committee having received evidence that
the mode of recovering penalties against gas, com-
panies is inoperative, whether before a police-
magistrate or the Secretary of State, recommend
that a more summary process be adopted.
" That the Metropolis Gas Act should be amended
to carry out the suggestions contained iu this report."
On the motion of Mr. BONTEMS, the report was
referred to the special gas committee of the Corpo-
tion, with the authority to negociate with the three
gas companies in reference to the report of the com-
mittee of the House of Commons.