§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Gas Light and Coke Company has been supplying gas to small consumers by means of a special apparatus, and also that the South Metropolitan Gas Company is freely meeting the wants of this class of consumers; and, whether he can take any steps to secure that equal facilities shall continue to be given by the Gas Light and Coke Company?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonI am informed by the Gas Light and Coke Company that they have been and are supplying automatic prepayment gas meters, together with stoves and gas fittings, at the rate of about 500 per week; that since July 1st last year the company have supplied 31,462 customers, and that they have on hand orders which are being executed as quickly as the meter makers can deliver the necessary apparatus. The company also inform me that some months ago, owing to the inability of the meter makers to furnish the company with meters as fast as applicants were sending in their requisitions for supplies, the directors, to prevent disappointment, found it necessary to suspend accepting any further orders until they should be in a position, with the aid of the meter makers, promptly to execute every order as and when received.