Minister Asked To Cut Fares Again

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 3

Minister Asked To Cut Fares Again

(New Zealand Press Association) BLENHEIM, June 10. The Minister of Railways will be asked by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce to consider reducing further the freight, car, and passenger charges for the Cook Strait ferries when early returns of the Aranui’s running show that reductions are warranted.

Last night the chamber welcomed the reductions recently announced by the Minister, but expressed disappointment that they were not bigger.

The Aramoana made a profit of more than £900,000 last year ard the chamber believed the reductions would not reduce the profits to £350,000 for each ship as stated by the Minister. The chamber conceded that when the two ships were in service overhead costs would increase, particularly because initially three trips a day were suggested. The Aramoana has been sailing twice dail.. The chamber intends to ask the National Roads Board to give a third Cook Strait ferry the same subsidy as the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Lyttelton Road Tunnel. Mr G. P. Lock said many people considered the ferry service an extension of the Union Steam Ship Company’s Lyttelton-Wellingtor service

rather than a pathway connecting the two islands. Roads Board participation would in the interest of motorists make them realise that the ferry was a vital part of the transport system, he said.