WAITAHA MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1928, Page 2

WAITAHA MAIL

The Mon. \V. Noxwortliv (Postmaster General) has written to Air T. E. A . Soddon, AI.P.. as follows, dated 20th January : Further to the opening paragraph of my letter of the Kith ultimo, on tile subject of an improved, mail service to the Waitaha settlement : I have to inform you that enquiries were made from Messrs Newmans .Motors l.td.. as to their serving the AN aitalia .settlement on each trip with mails, hut they declined to make any otter tor such a service. They contended that it would interfere with their tourist traflic and that they could not profitably perform such a service, as practically nothing but mails would be carried. The trip referred to would add forty-two miles weekly to their present service; and, as the running costs of their, vehicles are high, the additional cost for serving the settlement would he at least thirty or forty shillings per week. It is considered that this is too high a payment to make, as the revenue is only approximately £23 per annum, in any ease, if Messrs Newman Motors did undertake the service, the settlers would not be able to reply to correspondence the same day. and the settlement would he in the same position as all other places south of Ross. The solution of the problem is for one of toe settlers themselves to provide a service, for which my Department is prepared to pay a subsidy of approximately £4O. Tn tbe circumstances, the Department can do no more until tbe settlers can assist it by finding a suitable contractor.