PICTON-WELLINGTON SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1132, 20 May 1911, Page 3

PICTON-WELLINGTON SERVICE.

RECENT COMPLAINTS. THE CASE FOE THE COMPANY. Speaking yesterday in reference to recent criticism upon the manner in winch the Wellington-Picton service is conducted by liis company, Mr. \\. A. Kennedy (manager of tlw Union Steam Ship Company's local office) stated that in this instance he felt bound to depart from his usual practice of ignoring anonymous letters appearing m the press. In justice (o his company ant to stewards aboard its steamers, said Mr. Kennedy, he must direct attention to a slmuling regulation providing that, in the event of steamers fro" •Picton and Nelson arriving as late as 10 p.m., passengers had tho option ot remaining on board for the night. It was fully recognised by tho company that, at such an hour, it was a matter of difficulty for passengers—and more especially women and children—to arrange for lodgings in the city, if they have not had the foresight to do so previously. Such passengers as availed themselves of this privilege, Mr. Kennedy added, were supplied free of chargo with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, their boots were polished, and they also had liberty to liavo a bath en board. In some instances passengers asked that thev should bo allowed to remain and have breakfast on board. This also was permitted, but a small chargo was made for tho meal "That tho instructions to the stewards' department, as to passengers being entitled to these privileges, aro being carried out," continued Mr. Kennedy, "is proved beyond doubt by tho very considerable amounts paid into tho company's office by the chief stewards for breakfasts supplied to these persons who liavo availed themselves of the concession so granted—a. concession which entails a very considerable amount of inconvenience to tho stewards' staff in view of the short interval left for. tho changing of bed-linen, cleaning out cabins, etc., between breakfast time and tho hour of tho vessel's departure. "In view of theso facts, and seeing that a large section of tho travelling public is evidently well aware of, and avails itself of, tho privilege granted by the company, it is much to bo regretted that th'oso passengers who liavo been nursing a grievance did not at once report the circumstances to tho master of tho ship or to tho management. The company (says Mr. Kennedy) invites representations of this character, and it will bo readily recognised that, unless they are made, it cannot intuitively know that any breach of regulations is being committed. Anonymous complaints aro ungenerous, and, nearly always, unjust." With regard to tho isolated case of tho Patecna missing connection with the Mararoa on the night of Saturday, May 13, Mr. Kennedy goes on to say that it is recognised by the company that on this occasion a hardship was caused in individual cases, but this would, in all probability, liavo been avoided, had those passengers who were specially desirous of connecting with tho Mararoa notified the Blenheim manager during the day, instead of leaving him in ignorance of tho fact until tho evening, by which time it was too late for tho arrangements made for the shipment of outward cargo to bo altered.

"It must bo recognised by any thinking person," concluded Mr. Kennedv, "that tho steamers are not run solely in tho interests of passengers, but that there also is an obligation on the com-' nany's part to remove the cargo standing in railway trucks, which woul.l otherwise be subject to a demurrage charge by the Railway Department."