ELECTRIC HEATING .sx Cost of Household's Supply of Hot Water .sx Sir , - Being particularly interested in the comparative costs of competitive domestic labour-saving methods , I feel it is a great pity that your correspondent , " Ratepayer , " has not published a summary of the unusually comprehensive data which he must have available to cause him to state that , for the heating of water for domestic-purposes , gas is " far cheaper in every way " than electricity .sx As the estate on which I live is not served with gas , I have no personal experience of its application to domestic water-heating but , being an enthusiastic advocate of the all-electric house , I am in a position to give actual figures for the running of an electric water-heating installation .sx I have had a 20 gallon Ferranti electric water-heater in continuous service for the past eleven months supplying a bath , a lavatory basin and a scullery sink , no other water heating being employed except for culinary purposes , neglecting the month of November last , during three weeks of which the house was unoccupied , 2,919 units for water heating were registered on a separate meter ; giving an average daily consumption of 9 units for the 307 days period .sx As electrical energy is purchased on the " all-in " system , where the unit charge is d , these 9 units represent an additional cost of 4d .sx per day for electric water heating .sx For this 4d .sx , a supply of water at 195 degrees F. is obtained at any time of the day or night - hot enough for shaving and too hot to permit of the waste of hand-washing under the tap .sx The service is entirely automatic , a thermostat switching on the electricity when the temperature of the water falls below 195 degrees F. and cutting it off when that temperature is regained .sx Carefully designed heat insulation reduces radiation from the cylinder to a minimum and the makers claim that , if hot water is not drawn off , it costs less than 1d .sx per twenty-four hours to maintain the water at the required temperature .sx The average daily demand on the installation is water for two baths , for washing up after three meals , for other general purposes and twice per week , for the filling of an electric wash-boiler .sx I have no particulars of the method which it is proposed to employ for the Limeside School installation , but my own experience with electric water heating leads me to expect that , particularly if the thermal storage system is adopted with a tank of adequate size to meet the demands on the installation , the authorities will be delighted with its operation and will have no need to fear a comparison with gas heating on the basis of the ratio of service to running costs .sx In any case , I hope that the figures I have given will do something towards disposing of the conviction that certain vested interests have succeeded in rooting in the minds of the general public , and which letters like that of the " Ratepayer " strengthen without contributing any reasoned argument or proffering any useful information , namely , that the advantages of electric water heating are financially out of the reach of the average householder .sx Its adoption , in my opinion , is well worth the consideration of many people who now , quite incorrectly , deem it beyond their means .sx In the case of a new house in particular , it becomes quite an attractive proposition since the omission of the fireback boiler , the storage cylinder and the customary pipework between those two fixtures , represents a valuable contribution towards the first cost of an electrical installation .sx - Yours , etc. , .sx F. ROSTRON .sx Dacres Garden Village , Greenfield .sx AMALGAMATION .sx Sir , - the proposed amalgamation of Oldham and Chadderton is such an important matter that all information possible should be placed before the public .sx Amalgamation , from my understanding of the relationship between the two authorities , would be conductive to real economy in management of public services .sx Such economy in itself would be helpful in the development of the district and its trade .sx It is well known that manufacturers set up new businesses in districts that are not costly in rates and services and considering the position as a whole , I think .sx While amalgamation would benefit both authorities Chadderton would probably be a greater gainer than Oldham .sx The financial position in Chadderton has been so stringent during the last few years that all services have been cut down to the last penny , yet still the rates there are higher than in Oldham and are likely to be so for years to come , if only because the reduced rateable value of the mills and workshops affects Chadderton in proportion more than Oldham .sx This lessened rateable value may cause Chadderton rates to go still higher .sx What is the objection to a complete instead of a partial amalgamation with Oldham ?sx Our interests are identical , no one without a map showing the boundary lines can tell where one begins and the other ends .sx One side of a street may be in Oldham the other in Chadderton .sx On one side of Manchester Road , one block higher up is in Chadderton , and the next higher again is in Oldham .sx Platt's works are partly in Oldham and partly in Chadderton , the division being a very irregular line cutting through the works .sx Such things present difficulties of administration that would be removed by amalgamation .sx We join with Oldham in the essential services , such as water , electricity and gas , if there be a fire in our district , the Oldham Brigade is called , our accident cases are sent to Oldham Infirmary , the centre for the care of the blind people of the district is in Oldham , we send our young people to their excellent Technical Schools and as many Chadderton men as Oldham men join in the use of the Westwood bowling green .sx Many social and commercial activities have their centre in Oldham , and Chadderton people take as much part in these activities as the people of Hollinwood , Hathershaw and Westwood which districts are in the borough .sx Our councillors would be part of the Oldham Council and have just the same voting power as other councillors and the same chance of succeeding to the higher official positions Oldham Town Council has to offer .sx We should thus get a direct representation in regard to the joint services and suggestions for their improvement could be made through our representatives direct to the departmental committees concerned .sx Our police are controlled from Preston , and our higher educational facilities are under the control of the County .sx Would it not be a better policy from our standpoint to have them controlled locally ?sx The County may object to amalgamation because they would lose the position they now occupy spending a lot of the Chadderton ratepayers' money .sx Surely money raised locally should be controlled locally .sx - Yours , etc. , CHADDERTONIAN .sx A COMPARISON .sx Sir , - When I was near the tram terminus in Middleton a few days ago , I was struck by the difference in the means of transport of the various authorities .sx To travel to Manchester or Rochdale is a pleasure , the trams and buses being roomy and comfortable .sx The trams provided by Oldham are small , stuffy , and anything but comfortable .sx Is it not possible to have one or two buses on this route ?sx As a source of revenue for Oldham business people , Middleton is ignored .sx Shoppers will not come to Oldham , unless they can be brought in reasonable comfort , and fairly quickly .sx I would like to mention another way in which money is lost in Oldham .sx A great deal is spent outside the town , by people who get their living in the town .sx This I think is mostly thoughtlessness .sx Oldham shopkeepers are paying high rents and rates , and surely deserve some consideration .sx If shoppers would buy as far as possible in their own town it would certainly help a little towards improving the prosperity of Oldham .sx - Yours etc. , .sx RATEPAYER .sx THE CANTEEN REPORT .sx Sir , - My attention has just been drawn to a letter signed with initials only which appeared in your issue of January 23 .sx As chairman of the committee appointed by the Minister of Labour to inquire into the conditions of work in canteens , I should like to ask your permission to reply to the points raised .sx It is suggested that the camps visited were chosen by the staff of the Navy , Army and Air Force Institutes .sx This is quite untrue .sx Catterick and Salisbury were selected as they were the camps against which most of the criticism had been directed .sx The others were chosen with the sole idea of getting a comprehensive view of the different types of camps .sx The board of the N.A.A.F.I. was anxious for the committee to go wherever it liked and to make any inspections that it wished .sx With regard to hours , the Institutes do not provide breakfasts for the men , therefore , except in those cases where " gunfire tea " is the rule the Institutes do not open between 10 and 11 o'clock .sx With regard to time off in the afternoon , we saw those girls who were not out , in their sitting-room and bedrooms .sx It is only a matter of organisation to provide two hours off duty for every member of the staff , also to arrange for the necessary work of preparation for the evening .sx The report never states that the girls go off duty at 9 30 , but that the Institutes close down for that hour .sx It is obvious that clearing up has to be done after that .sx Do not mill girls living at home often have to do some housework in the evening , and they do not get two hours off during the afternoon ?sx - Yours etc. , .sx SHENA D. SIMON .sx Broomcroft , Ford Lane , Didsbury .sx SALARIES QUESTION .sx Sir , - I was very pleased indeed to note in Wednesday's " Chronicle " that we still have a few public men left who have the courage to speak out and protect the ratepayers .sx I refer to Councillors Thornton , Penty and Barlow , and the other members who voted with them at the Public Assistance Committee on increase of salaries .sx For salaried people who are doing well with regular incomes , holidays with pay , and pay if off through sickness , it is impudence to ask for an increase of salary at such a time .sx it is about time they had a reduction like other workers , and if they are not satisfied let them join the queue for the " dole .sx " There are thousands who would be glad to do their work and do it efficiently at a lot less salary .sx The ratepayers ought to know the names of the members who voted for the increase , so that they will know how to deal with them when they come before the electors .sx Yours , etc. , .sx SALARIES DOWN .sx A NEW RELIGION .sx Sir , - I note that my letter has inspired two correspondents to make a rely .sx The first , written by J. Crosby , seems to suggest that I have been making assertions without making myself clear or explaining my position .sx This opponent accuses me of asserting " that in Christianity all is assertion without proof .sx " Nothing of the kind !sx What I really tried to convey is my belief that Christianity as taught by the orthodox churches needs to be strengthened and inspired by the additional truths taught by the Christian Science and Spiritualism .sx Why should he use the word " spicey , " a misleading word , and as used in this connection one that seems to convey the contempt of the writer .sx Mysticism , idealism , or occultism , in so far as they represent the inner truth , or soul of religion , and the psychic science in religion , are necessary to make it a more living and vital thing .sx Why is it that Spiritualism and Christian Science make an appeal to great numbers of people ?sx Because they represent certain phases of the truth which the Church does not emphasise .sx Every phase of truth will make itself known in the world somehow , it not by the Church , then in some other way .sx Surely the Christian Church should represent something more than an historical tradition !sx " Yes , I believe in a religion which is " reasonable throughout , " but not perhaps reasonable in the way J. Crosby probably thinks I mean .sx There is such a thing as pure reason , which is not quite the same thing as logical demonstration by the intellect .sx