UNION CO.’S CHANGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2211, 8 June 1908, Page 2

UNION CO.’S CHANGES.

[TO THE EbITOU.J Sir, —Having read a letter signed * 'Steerage” in to-days issue, I may say that I was a passenger on the same trip, and through the delay' in landing passengers missed the express, and had to return to the steamer and continue the trip to Wellington. A tender about half the size of the Tuatea was sent out to convey the passengers ashore, of whom there were about 100. Her decks were crowded, standing room only, raining ‘lurd, and only an old sail rigged up for covering. Nearly all the passengers were wet through. Then so much time was lost in’ making fast and getting the luggage ashore that many of the passengers missed the express. To add insult to injury, the captain c.nne round and wanted to collect Is (kl from those passengers who had no pass. Some paid, but I refused, and it was not insisted upon. W’liv this poll tax when you book from Gisborne to Napier? You are supposed to be landed there, are you not? (But there is another matter that I want to complain about, and that is the excessive overcharge to which the travelling. public of this district is subjected to, in comparison with any other port to port trip on the coast. The distance from Gisborne to Napier is SO miles, from Napier to Wellington 203 miles, Wellington to Lyttelton 175, Lyttelton to Dunedin 175 miles, Dunedin to Bluff 132 miles. The return saloon fare in each case is the same, viz. ~_3ss. Now, why should the travelling public of Poverty Biy be compelled to pay 3os a distance of 86 miles when the Napier people can go to Wellington, a , distance of 203. miles, for the same money? I consider the Union Company (and the Huddart-Parker Company as well) are penalising this district to the extent of at least £SOOO per annum in the matter of passenger fares in comparison with other parts of the coast. If we had a livo Clumber of Commerce in Gisborne this is one of the first matters it should give its attention to, but as long as no complaint is made the companies will sit tight and squeeze the travelling public, as it is doing at present, by charging such excessive furcs as I have quoted.—l am, etc., ' “SALOON PASSENGER.” June 6th, 1008.