NEGLECTED MARLBOROUGH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 64, 9 December 1919, Page 2

NEGLECTED MARLBOROUGH

ilipeoved transportation wanted; •■. ; -. ■■■■

The transportation facilities between Mnrlborough and Wellington'were discussed at yesterday's meeting of iiio council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce, when a resolution •nearin» on the subject was read, from tho Marlborougli Chamber of Commerce. Tho resolution, which was carried at ■ an indication moeting of representatives'of. local bodies and the general publio of Marlborougli, urged the Government to furnish their province with better transportation facilities between the ports/of Picton and Wellington; further, .IhnHlie'service at'the-present time was' unsatisfactory and inadequate,, showing no improvement within* tho last ton years, and consequently not. in keeping with the growth of the'province. Efficient' means of transport were a . vital nc-cess'ity to the development of tho province, ran tho resolution, which went oil to uigo the Government \o provido a fast-passenger steamer capa'blo of coping with the traffic, this with a view ;to the early complotion of- tho South Island Main, Trunk railway. Mr. W. T, Cotton thought that there was no doubt that Marlborough- had been starved. ■■ At present tho service was very 'inadequate. With- a' fast eery'ice there would bo no neoussity.of Wollington beins short of milk, 60 far as Marlboroujfa was conwrned. In his opinion the Government should operatq a steamship service between, tho two islands. • ■ Mr. Castlo thought -that the Marlborough people had a real grievance. ■: PriYato.enterprise had failed signally to meet the existing conditions. The. chairman (Mr. Loijii Hunt), m eyiupathising with the needs.of .tho district, suggested that, failing ihe government" being ablo to , meet Die tiemands of the Marlborough Chamber, the council should undertake to make representations'to the private shipping interests ..o take-steps-to cope with tho situation. The ieeling. ot the meeting,was distiictly favourable to tho consideration of Marlborough's claims, and it vas vinanimouslv resolved to endorse Iho.motipr, with tho addition of tho provision suggested by Mr. Hunt.