EASTBOURNE FERRY SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2681, 29 January 1916, Page 7

EASTBOURNE FERRY SERVICE.

Sir,—Your correspondent in this morning's Dominion, Mr. J. B. Speed, lias failed to give a satisfactory reply to • tho complaints regarding Eastbourne's little ferry servicc, but lias merely showered abuse on "A Wellington Citizen." Furthermore, Mr. Speed asks what it lias to do with. "A Wellington Citizen" how the boats are mn. Well, sir, Wellington has spent a few pence on a park over there, and surely ''A Wellington Citizen" bas a right to be considered when he wishes to visit his own park. Although Wellington citizens have bought a luxury they don't hinder residents of Eastbourne from enjoying it. Surely the people of Eastbourne can see that the ferry service is the very life-blood of the place, and that an excellent ferry service is indispensable to its prosperity. As for the method of collecting tickets, well, it is horrible. A day or' two ago 1 bought a return ticket to Rona Bay and walked to the one and only gangway. Here there was a mass of fighting humanity waiting for the one and only ticket, collector to take its tickets, clip them, and then insist on handing them back," although those portions of them were useless. X tried to dodge getting the useless scrap back, but 110, the ticket-puncher was too wily for me and called me back. Mr. Speed says he is proud of the ferry service. Just fancy being "proud" of two transharbour liners like the "Duchess" and the "Cobnr." No wonder those two old "ships" are still, in commission when Lhey are controlled by such unprogrossive people as Mr. Speed makes himself appear to be. Furthermore, Mr. Speed need not have mentioned his long existence at Muritai. I can quite conceive that he has never seen a better ferry service.—l am, etc., DAVY JONES.

Sir, —I hope now that publicity has. been drawn to the Eastbourne ferr.y service that 'something will be done to remedy the present out-of-date state of affairs. Little or no attempt is made to cope with the needs of the public and the muddlemeut especially on holidays., is-nothing short of farcical. "A Wellington Citizen," however, in this morning's Dominion is hardly correct when he says that there is®nothing in jtfew Zealand run on more parochial or amateur, lines than the Eastbourne ferry service. He forgot-s the Kclburn tram, which, would take a lot of beating for this, inasmuch for one thing when one car stops the other has to, which I have not found equalled in the world for a service of the kind. Yet certain persons are clamouring for the Wellington Corporation to take over this amateur -business. Truly, Wellington is unenviable for its lack of up-to-date-ness.—l am, etc., WAKE TJP. Wellington, January 27, 1916.