SUNDAY STEAMERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3981, 14 July 1915, Page 6

SUNDAY STEAMERS.

VEXED QUESTION OF THE LAUNCH HOUR. ,

DEPUTATION PRESENTS PETITION TO SHIPPING COMPANIES.

A deputation comprising the Rdv. F. W. Chatterton, Hon. W. Morgan, Dr. W. P. Porter and Afessrs G. A. deLautoun and T. 15. Tonoycliffo-wait-ed uponi Mho managers of the local firanolirafof the Union S.S. and Hudfmrker "Companies yesterday afi at the office of the Union ny, and presented a petition some 1000 signatures, .eq up slit the hour at wliicli the launch the wharf on Sunday evenings red •from 7 .‘lO to (i.,‘51). Mr deLautoui- headed the deputation, and called upon the Rev. Mr Chatterton to read the- petition, which was as follows:—• “We, the undersigned business people and residents of Poverty Hay, wish to bring under your notice the matter of the time, of departure from rfpfisborno of the Sunday night boat to 'Napier. FoPmany years it was tin; .practice, for the launch to leave, the wharf at 5 o’clock, and although this meant some delay in tin* roadstead before the boat sailed yet on tne whole the public inconvenience, was not great, and- in the winter months the difficulties of embarking were got through before, dark, and the carters and others employed had their Sunday evenings free. Some months ago the time of the departure ol the launch was altered from live to seventhirty p.m. without any general public demand for the alteration, and in opposition to the feeling ol that large section of the community which is identified with the various Christian churches of the town «hose services commence at 7 o’clock. We venturi* to think that neither of the shipping companies concerned would he unwilling to listen to the reasonable request of a large number of persons in this growing community who arc sole\ly dependent upon them in journeying to and from Gisborne. We would respectfully suggest that the thug of leaving the wharf be (i.fil) instead oi "..‘ill p.m. 'Fhe very reasonable complaint that the, churches of the town now make would then he removed. This would he in accord with tin* action of the Auckland Tramways Co., who, in deference to the wishes of the Church people of Auckland, ceased running their cars during the hours of Divine Service., Air ('hatterton said the petition had been signed by about 1000 persons. Air doLautour said he had been asked to say a word or two as an old resident. The petition was not one that had been- indiscriminately circulated. They ventured to ask that in forwarding the petition to their head office the managers would do so with a favorable recommendation. They desired the working of the Sunday boats to In* carried out with a minimum of inconvenience. Air de Cantour referred to the crowds that usually congregated at the wharf when the tender was leaving. He said no doubt these people could attend church if they wished. They appealed confidently to the companies, particularly the Union Company, winch had such a large number of employers, to assist in the object of minimising the evil attendant upon Sunday worning. .Many years ago Napier had the same difficulty. Napier stood up to it and Gisborne had to bear tin* burden. It was unfortunate that the sending away of the troops on Sunday nights had aggregated the crowds, but

they hoped the sending away <>f troops would soon cease and then the companies would find they would be hampered by a crowd of people. He trusted a favorable consideration would be given to them. 'Flic Rev. Air Chatterton drew at-tention-io the fact that the petition is signed by a very large number of residents of Gisborne and the country districts. Included amongst these signatures were those of the .Mayor, the Senior Stipendiary Alagistrate. the Crown Commissioner of Lands, the District Engineer, Hon. \Y. Alorgan, AI.L.C.. most of the loading merchants, all the doctors, most of the lawyers, bank managers, and school teachers, the editors of tin* papers, a number of sheepfarniors as well as most of the prominent- business people and a large number of residents, ft could not. therefore, be said that the signatures did not represent the general public. They recognised that the change asked for might probably involve a little inconvenience in somedirections but could hardly think that this would amount to anything serious. ft would also happen sometimes that the boat would arrive late,

and then only one launch would go out carrying both outward and inward passengers, which involved a good deal of confusion. This occasionally happened now. and tin* alteration of one hour would not tie likely to cause this to happen much, if any. more frequently than it d*d at present. Some passengers already objected to lying out in the bay so long before, sailing, and the proposed change would mean lying out longer still. This one hour extra, could not-, however, affect more than a very few. and those perhaps not more than once or twice a year, whereas the inconvenience sought- to be remedied was one that, was of weekly occurrence. 'Fhe reasons for the change were to remove a serious hindrance put in tin* way of the work

of the churches, by fixing the departure of the steamer in tin* middle of the service hour. Tin’s while a disadvantage at any time is the more so at a time like tin’s when in the great crisis through which we are- passing the religious side of our national life should receive every encouragement. ’Fhe proposed change would give a little more consideration to the cartel's and others employed in work eonnect- / eel with the departure of the steamer } and who, under present arrangements, lose almost their whole Sunday evening. Dr. Porter said that all lie '••ui.'d add to what had been said by Air de Lautour and the Rev. Air (’hatierion was to reply to the argument.that tin hour of the church service should he changed. Why, he asked, should the churches he .expected to alter their hour of service? Seven o’clock had boon fixed as the hour of service b.v the churches for long years past. Mr Preston said lie thought it would he conceded that there was no animosity to the churches on the part of the companies. They had hrougnt along a largely-signed petition, ant he accepted it. On the other hand, however, they had to remember that there was a large section of the travelling public to he. considered. The shipping companies did not want work orift Sundays, blit it must he nd mitred tjjtit the steamers calling here on S* ndftys was a great convenience to the lfublic*, enabling them to catch the train at Napier. He felt that the llnost suitable hour was really 7 yT clock.

Air deLautour said the churches had a- duty to endeavor to. attract nonchurch going people to attend divine worship. However, he hoped the representatives of the shipping company would forward the petition on to their head offices with a favorable- levonimemlatiqn. Air ToneyclilFe: Do you think, Air Preston, that the passenger steamers will call in at the wharf before long. Mr Preston : That’s a matter T can’t say, hut it has to he remembered that Gisborne is a roadstead port, and tbe great bulk of the tendering must liedone in the roadstead.

Mr AVachsmann pointed out that there were many times when they brought in 1.00 pasengers and took out 100 from this port. Some consideration had to he given to the stewards who had to <"R- the cabins ready for the people who were gqjrur to occupy tVftin. People know wlp* t cabins were like after rp'-ob. veiled. in them f -om Aucklfl'■*'!. Ti-"'' had to be jr veil, in .which to tidy tip. Then t-Jjore was t-be evening mead to pet over.

Mr Cowles said that if ten travellers asked them to delay the boats then*" request should carry more weight than 100 people who stayed at home. They had to consider* the travelling public. Mr Preston said they could tako it that the crowd who.came down to see the tender off on Sunday night represented the genus non-church goer. Mr deLautour said that Mr Cowles had insinuated that the deputation did not represent the travelling public, lie might say that he and his family travelled as much as anyone in the district. Mr Preston: Yes, and I must tell you that your son is one of the strongest opponents of changing the hour of departure from 7.110. Dr. Porter: Then he is not following in his father’s footsteps. Mr Toneyclill'o said that one of the difficulties was that every time a person left by the tender friends had to go down to .see them off. Mr Preston said that they would take into'consideration the representations of the deputation, and would acquaint them of their decision through the press. Dr. Porter moved a vote of thanks to the representatives of tire shipping companies for having so patiently heard their views, and the deputation then withdrew.