WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1783, 23 June 1913, Page 4

WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY. SOME CHANGES RECOMMENDED. Last session, in rcsponso to the repre. mentations of members, tho Government; promised to have inquiry mado into the running of the subsidised steamer service on tho Wanganui River by Messrs. Hatrick and Co. A Departmental inquiry has been held, and the findings ol tho officers who conducted it will in duo course Ims presented to Parliament, withcoiilidentiali, 1 whicli Was Blvcu at) The Prime Minister (the Hon. AV. T. Jlaskoj) turnishod the recommendations made by the Departmental officers to a Dominion reporter last evening. They aro as iollow:—

J hat the subsidy now paid to tho }™!!® ranui CL -Irust bo lucreascd bv .£2OO per annum, on condition that tho dues now levied on goods bo abolished. 'Ihat Mr. llatrick's attention bo direeled to tho high freights at the Taumarauui end, and that ho be requested to consider what reductions can bo effected. "That Mr. Ilatrick bo requested to meet an officer experienced in such business, with a view of making more equitable schedules of lures and freights. "That schedules of fares and freights be printed and exhibited at post otßces. "j-lint an officer of the post office bo periodically instructed to inspect tho book in which Messrs. Ilatrick and Company enter goods for shipment, with a vifcw of ensuring that they aro dispatched in uccoroanco with t'lio order of entry. !! 10 "Mention of tho company bo' called to the'complaint of disorderly eonduct, and that they bo requested to repress cxccssivo drinking on the steamers. "That before calliug for tenders at tiio expiration, of tho present tcntract a completo schedule of passenger fares and goods freights, both up and down river, lie drawn up under three different scales —a maximum based on tho existing tariff, a middle, say, 10 per cent less, and a minimum 20 per cent lower than the maximum, <md that different tenders lxj willed for under tho three different scales."

The officers presenting their report, remark also that the root, of tin whole trouble in connection with the Wanganui river service is.tho fact that the owners of the ships plying on Hie river are also merchants competing for tho supply of goods to tho settlers.