Giovanni De Martino’s letter ‘Weighing gas cylinders is a useless exercise’ (TMID, 9 January) contains some inaccuracies and I explain why: The Enemalta servicemen were correct to say that irrespective of the weight, the empty cylinder is filled by the exact amount of gas it should hold. Mr De Martino should have asked for the weight of gas which is supposed to be pumped in the cylinder (of a certain size).

He would then weigh a full cylinder upon delivery and record the weight, then use the cylinder until completely empty and then weigh again. The difference between the first recorded weight and the weight when empty would equal to the weight of gas the cylinder contained upon delivery. This is the only way one can ascertain the actual amount of gas in a new cylinder.

Some claim that the contents are not what they are supposed to be by noting how long they last. This is the most inaccurate way of determining whether they have been short-changed. They have to take into account how much cooking they did, whether there were any possible leaks and, if they weighed the tank, whether the scales they used were accurate. Older bathroom scales can sometimes err by as much as 10 per cent.

It is hardly worth the contractor’s time to ‘steal’ gas from freshly filled cylinders by the supplier and partially fill empty cylinders. Technically, it would be a rather difficult and time consuming exercise which would nullify any ill-obtained gains.

Joe Martinelli

London, Ontario

Canada