GODALMING
THE GAS QUESTION
On Wednesday evening a meeting of the memorialists was held in the Town Hall for the purpose of taking into consideration the reply to the memorial recently laid before the Gas Company respecting the reduction in the price of gas. Mr. Barritt occupied the chair, and there were present Messrs. Rea, Colpus, Hounsom, Softley, Harvey, Prust, Coltman, Lyons, E. Ellis, Bridger, Burl, Chennell. and Miles.
Mr Chennell read the following list of prices per thousand feet charged by 13 different Gas Companies within the county, obtained by the deputation since the last meeting:—Chertsey, 6s.; Aldershot, 5s. 6d. cash; Guildford, 6s. 6d.; Croydon, 5s. 6d.; Kingston, 5s. 6d.; Staines, 6s.; Egham, 6s.; Dorking, 5s. 10d.: Hampton, 6s.; Reigate 7s., to be reduced next winter to 6s. 6d.; Farnham, 6s. 3d.; Horsham, 5s.; Petersfield, (which is now being managed by the late manager of the Godalming Gas Works), 7s. 6d.
Mr. Colpua, after these statistics had been laid before the meeting, did not consider that the consumers would be justified in paying 6s. 8d. per thousand when the average of the county was only 6s. per thousand feet, and the company was at the present time only charging ‟the factories” 6s. The present charge, he thought, was exceedingly unjust to the consumers of the town.
Messrs. Prust, Hounsom, and others expressed their concurrence in the remarks which had fallen from Mr. Colpus.
Mr Bridger expressed dissatisfaction that the Gas Company should charge the factories a lower price than the private consumers, who in many instances burnt a large quantity of gas.
Mr Chennell moved the following resolation :—
“That this meeting accepts the resolution of the Gas Company reducing the price of gas to 6s. 8d. per thousand cubic feet to ordinary consumers. This meeting would however call the attention of the gas proprietors to the fact that the reduced price of 6s 8d is still considerably in excess of the charges made by Gas Companies in other parts of the county, the average being about 6s. per thousand, and good dividends being returnable at that rate in every instance. From this fact the meeting is strongly of opinion that gas of quality might be supplied to the town at an uniform rate of 6s. per thousand feet, and their opinion is strengthened by the circumstance that certain consumers are already supplied in the town at that charge. This meeting believes that a further concession to this extent would prove fully satisfactory to the consumers generally, and would ultimately be of special interest to the Gas Company, and tend greatly to increase the consumption of gas in the town and neighbourhood.”
Mr. Colpus seconded the motion, and after considerable discussion it was carried.
A committee consisting of Messrs. Rea, Colpus, Hounsom, Bridger, and Prust, having been formed for the purpose of conveying the resolution to the Gas Company,
The meeting separated.