THE KOPU FERRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4934, 3 February 1926, Page 2

THE KOPU FERRY.

COMPLAINTS AGAINST CHARGES. CONSIDERED EXCESSIVE. At the ferry conference between representatives of the Plains and Thames county councils at Thames yesterday Cr. T. McLoughlin pointed out that the closing of the Wharepoa ferry, as suggested, might impose a hardship on some settlers who would be compelled to vase .the Kopu ferry and pay the excessive fees demanded. The high rates made many people use the Wharepoa ferry and put up with the longer distance and bad roads. A reduction in the fees at the Kopu ferry would mean greater traffic, and perhaps greater revenue. It would hardly cause a loss.

Cr. H. Lowe, chairman of the Thames! County, the controlling authority, said in reply that the suggestion to lease the ferry was made at a time when everyone was anxious to quit the business oh account of the loss which was being made. -The scale of charges had been fixed by the council, and the company had taken over .the ferry and agreed to run at the siame rates.

The clerk read the agreement between the council and the lessee. It was apparent that the company had a lease for 10 years from December, 1924. Provision was made" for altering the rates by mutual consent of the company and the council.

Councillors* commented that the position was unsatisfactory, as, the lessees were unlikely to consent to lowering the rates.

In spite bf the many attempts by the struggling farmer, the gum lands of the North Auckland district have proved unsuitable for general agricultural purposes. Cropping is not a paying proposition in those parts. There is one exception, however. Tobacco thrives well in these latitudes, and splendid typeis of leaf have been produced on soils that not long ago were covered with ti-tree and fem. A small portion of these waste lands if planted in tobacco would be sufficient to transform this poverty-stricken district into regions of affluence 'and wealth ; £5O net is the average yield of a tobacco crop per acre, and often more. Few people realise the immense possibilities of the tobacco industry, but anyone wanting information on the subject is referred to the ready manufactured article, Riverhead Gold, mildest of all; Toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog), of medium strength; and’Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullhead), full strength. Do not forget that all three brands are "toasted,” and, therefore, are more wholesome than the average class of goods from overseas, often so harmful on the score of excess nicotine.*,,