THE HARBOUR FERRY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 4

THE HARBOUR FERRY SERVICE

The dissatisfaction with the Harbour Ferry service which has existed for a very long time past amongst residents of Day's Bay and Eastbourne has found definite expression in the proposal which is to be placed before the ratepayers to-morrow to municipalise the service. The question has been under consideration for a considerable time, and the advantages and risks of the venture havo been so fully discusscd that little now remains to be done beyond taking the opinions of the ratepayers who have to bear the brunt. It may be aB well, however, to brieily review some of the main features of tho undertaking which the ratepayers are being asked to approve. It is proposed to purchase two boats owned by the Wellington Harbour Ferries Company, which at present carry out the greater part of the running for the company between the City and the Eastern" side of the Harbour—the Duchess and the Cobar. The price proposed to be paid is £12,587 cash, or £13,250 in debentures, issued for

a term of 21 years, and bearing interest at 5 per cent. The steamers are not new, but the value placed on them by the engineer and. ship surveyor engaged by the Borough Council to make a. thorough'inspection is £13,950, or £1393 less than the cash price at which the Company is prepared to sell. The price which the Company is asking may, therefore, bo regarded as a reasonable one. It

should be noted, however, that the expert employed by the Council points out in his report that a new boiler will be required for the Duchess at no distant date, at a cost of £2000, and ■ further • repairs in sight total £520. These amounts havo been allowed for in the valuation placed on the vessel, the actual value being put at £12,000, less £2520, making the £9480 stated above. The actual cost of the vessels, therefore, will be £12,587 cash, or £13,250 in debentures, with a prospective additional outlay of £2500 in the near future. This additional expenditure, no doubt, will be partly, if not wholly, met out of depreciation, but it is a factor which should not bo overlooked. Mr. D. Robertson, who is one of those opposing the scheme, probably had such matters as this in mind when ho laid stress on the cost of upkeep of old boats. On the whole, however, it would seem that the capital expenditure involved is not unreasonable. The earning power of the two boats during the _ twelve months ended March 31 last is stated to have been £9354, and the estimates of the annual expenditure on the present basis of running to which the Borough Council would be put in the event of their purchase is set out as being some £1500 less, after allowing some £1100 for depreciation. The details, which go to make up these figures, are as under:— Revenue: £ £ Passengers 8836 Net freight 518 Total 9351 Expenditure: Running cost 3536 KcliM crews (if required) 910 Management JflOO Waste coal 300. Interest on. say, ,£15,000 debentures 750 Insurances 170 Depreciation 1125 Total /7791

Balance 1563 This 011 paper looks very well, but most people will be inclined to discount the figures somewhat. Private management usually produces better financial results than municipal management, and the greater part of the estimated profit shown may well be regarded as doubtful. Indeed, that can be done without seriously prejudicing the claims of the Mayor of Eastbourne and those with him who are advocating the adoption of the scheme for the munieipalisation of the service. If the Council can, by purchasing the steamers and carrying on the 'service, give tho public that assurance of a stable and satisfactory connection between the City and this favourite seaside suburb which is required to attract residents to _ the Eastern shores of the Harbour —if it can. do this without adding to the burdens of tho ratepayers—then it will have done a very fine thing for Eastbourne, and need not worry overmuch for the present about additional profits. Thei'o are some minor points which should be weighed, such as the possible effect on excursion traffic o'f the cutting up of tho pleasure-grounds at Day's Bay. This would mean certain loss of revenue, and the Council could, with advantage, havo been a little more explicit in informing ratepayers as to the proportion of revenue derived from excursionists as distinct from the regular users of the steamers. Taken altogether, however, there appears to be good grounds for the Council deeming it desirable that tho ferry service should be taken over and placed on a more satisfactory footing from the point of view of the borough. It has been urged, and with some justice, that it is a big venture for a small borough to embark on; biit, with careful management, it should not impose any heavy burden on the ratepayers, if it imposed any at all; and, with the increase of population on the Eastern shores of the Harbour, it may ultimately prove a profitable undertaking from a financial as well as from the other points -of view at present most immediately affecting the district.