GAS METERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2711, 15 January 1910, Page 3

GAS METERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —On apening my monthly gas account the following gummed notice appears thereon: “Owing to the small consumption of many meters, notice is hereby given that the lowest charge per nionth for every meter in nse will be 2s from 31st January current.” This is surely a matter that is being lost s ight of by the public. The position is, Sir, that because a man happens to be thrifty, he has to pay a tax for granting the Gas Company permission to put a meter on his (premises —which by actual right should belong to the consumer, as he has to pay to have everything put on liis premises. It certainly is the first time in my experience that a. man should be taxed because he elects to keep down hs expenses. It does not cost me 2s a month for my office, and never has, but I to use my own judgment, and will resort to pure kerosene, which I caii dole out as occasion requires. I have given instructions to the manager of the Gas. Company to take his meter away from, my office, as /1 was not aware until receipt of the notice that I was under an obligation for practically having it on my premises, and having to pay for it. Surely it is better for the Gas Company to receive a few shillings for consumption of gas than nothing at all, hut then capital can talk, and such as I stand nowhere. It is presumed that more than I are trying to save .a few shillings, otherwise the notice would not have been sent. Probably when electricity is installed in Gisborne th e Gas Company may be glad to resort, to the old order of things, and the public who are the supporters of these institutions will receive more sympathy from the directors to come of the Electric Lighting Company than at present, however small “his” mite may be.—l am, etc., H. E. HILL, Gisborne, .Jan. 14.