COMPANY MEETING
WANDSWORTH AND DISTRICT GAS
LARGER NUMBER OF CONSUMERS
THE annual ordinary general meeting of the Wandsworth and District Gas Company was held on February 14th at Wands- worth.
Mr. Frank H. Jones (chairman and managing director) said that it was a matter of regret that the directors had to report that a further increase in the price of gas to the extent of .4d. per therm would have to be made as from the meter readings after April 1st next. That increase was caused by circumstances entirely without the control of the directors and were of such a general nature that not only had the gas industry had to increase their prices, but also the railway and transport companies and to a large extent other public utility undertakings. That further increase had been found neces- sary after every effort had been made to economise in the manu- facture and distribution of gas. The increase also involved a reduction of half per cent. in the statutory dividends to the pro- prietors, and the co-partners' bonus would be reduced by 25 per cent. next year.
There was a slight decrease in the amount of gas sold to con- sumers, namely .34 per cent. Actually the gas manufactured showed a fractional increase, but the company was a large con- sumer of gas in the manufacture of residual products, which neces- sitated the gas being manufactured in the ordinary way before such processes could be commenced. It could be said without the slightest doubt that gas was used more extensively and for a larger number of purposes than ever before, but, owing to the increasing economy of modem apparatus, the use of gas per consumer had not shown a parallel increase in the total quantity consumed. Since the beginning of the current year, with colder conditions, a con- siderable increase in the amount of gas sold was recorded.
During the year the number of consumers had increased by 6,141, which now brought their total number to approximately aio,000, and in spite of the fact that there was a considerable trade depression during the latter part of last year, the sales of apparatus to their consumers had been maintained at a high level.
The report was adopted and at a subsequent extraordinary general meeting the terms of the London Gas Undertakings (Regu- lations) Bill now before Parliament were approved.
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