SAILING OF SUNDAY STEAMERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3987, 21 July 1915, Page 6

SAILING OF SUNDAY STEAMERS.

HOUR TO BE FIXED AT 6.45 P.M. The hoar of the launch departure from wharf on Sunday evenings has been carefully considered by the manager of the Union S.S. Co. in conjunction with the local agents for Messrs Huddart Parker and Co. since the deputation waited upon them last Tuesday. In order to as far as possible meet the churches it has been decided notwithstanding incidental difficulties and many indications of protest to make a trial of the launch, leaving the wharf at 6.45 p.m. on Sundays instead of 7.60 p.m. as at present. If this experiment does not prove successful > the hour will then, bo altered to 7 p.m.' which will be bedrock finality. The alteration is being made with a view to an honest attempt to meet the desire of the churches, as it is felt that there is somo reason in the request for less interference with the services on Sunday evening. In altering the present time the shipping companies realise that the bulk of tho travelling public would prefer that the hour on j Sundays should remain at. 7.30 p.m. However, as already indicated th© feeling prevails that the churches are entitled as far as consistently possible to some reasonable consideration in this matter. The possibility of making tho launch departure after the church advices was also very carefully considered but it was deemed inadvisable to delay the launch until such a late hour wit\ roadstead tendering disabilities. In addition to this phase it was also felt that the carriers and many other necessarily engaged on Sundays owing to the steamer sailings wore entitled to consideration as well a S i.Uo churches. This more especially as the inward passengers had to be attended to by them earlier in the day in addition to tho departure by tne outward launch at night. If the saving of this were fixed after the services it would make an unduly Jong day on Sundays for these people, whilst the end aimed at bv the churches would probably bo defeated to a greater extent than with existing arrangements. The altered hour 0f”6.45 p.m. will take effect on Sunday week, the Ist of August, but Mr Preston said that lie felt the gam expected would not be realised to the extent indicated by the deputation. With reference to the prepared statement read by Mr tie Lautour regardin''' the working of this port on Sundays Mr Preston said that it was apparently a great convenience to the Gisborne travelling public and this shoukj be borne in mind. With heavy special overtime charges the shipping companies were anything but keen for Sunday working of ports. Geographical situation had a great bearing on Gisborne and tho numbers which “left- here on Sundays demonstrated the apparent- advantage of this day. Possibly such was the result of longstanding custom and some cyclonic force might cause a change in the future. At present however there certainly wore no indications ot such eventuating with those travelling from Gisborne oil Sundays.