WAIHOU RIVER FERRIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4973, 12 May 1926, Page 2

WAIHOU RIVER FERRIES.

OPINIONS AND, COMMENTS* DISCUSSION AT KEREPEEHI. The lively interest taken by the settlers of the Kerepeehi distinct in the ferries over the Waihou River was manifested by the number of questions and the amount of discussion at Monday evening’s meeting of the Ratepayers’ Association. Mr P. R. Henry, candidate for .the seat of riding representative on the Hauraki Plains County Council, w’as| present to explain his policy. ex-Cr. Nicholson was also present. In reply to a question as to what the expenditure or loss on the Wharepoa and Netheiton ferries had been Mr Nicholson said that he could not say, but he knew that the Wharepoa ferry had cost £4OO a, year to maintain, and there had been some revenue, but while the Netherton ferry had cost within £75 a year asf much, there had not been any revenue. The £4OO attributed as maintenance costs for the Wharepoa ferry ha,d included the cost, of the new pontoon. At a later stage Mr W. Thompson asserted that the Wharepoa ferry had been and could again be made a paying proposition. The Kopu ferry •was too expensive for"the sjettlers to use. The income of .the Netherton ferry was never within 50 per cent, of the income of the Wharepoa ferry. The road on the Hikutaia side of the Netherton ferry was not good, and the Ohinemuri county engineer had said tha,t, it could never be made a good road. Mr Henry said there >Vas no doubt that when Mr Thompson was ferryman at Wharepoa it was a paying proposition, as those were the, boom years, and the .time when the Plains were heed for fattening stock. He had seen ca.ttle lined up for miles waiting to be transported over the fea-ry. The position was now changed, and in his opinion one ferry must go. He thought ; the Netherton ferry was the best for the greatest number. It would cost more to maintain the Wharepoa ferry approach roads. In asking the candidate if he would change his mind if public opinion could be shown to favour the Whajrepoa ferry Mr Hoff said that he understood an offer would be made to lease the ferry for £2OO a year if the county would put the roads in good order. The £2OO a year would more than pay the interest-and sinking fund on a loan for the purpose. . While promising support if it could be shown as a good paying proposition, Mr Henry pointed out that councillors were in duty bound to consider the interests of the whole county rather than those of one riding. Mr Shilton asked if the County Council had. protested against the high rates charged on the Kopu ferry. Mr Henry stated that the plant had '-been let to a private firm for a period of years and the charges could not be altered. He did not- think that it was cheaper for motorists to use ' the Wharepoa ferry than the Kopu ferry when benzine and wear and tear were taken into consideration.' A speaker observed that the Lands Department , employees whose home? were at Thames had been in the habit of using the Kopu ferry, but they now found it cheaper to use the Wharepoa. ferry for their regular week-end trips. Mr Shilton commented that? the County Council had not looked after the Interests df the settlers very well when it had agreed to let the ferry for £5O a year. Mr Henry agreed, and pointed out that the takings- on the .ferry on the day of the races at Thames amounted to £6's. Mr Davidson asked whether the candidate,. if elected, would support leasing the Netherton terry for a period of ten years in the event of the council deciding to keep the Wharepoa ferry open. He understood that there was talk of a company being ’formed to leajse. the. ferry. The stock auctioneering company had promised to take £loo' worth of shares. Mr Henry (laughingly) : Not after the experience of the Kopu ferry deaj. Mr W. Booth said that he understood there was a person who w. agreeable to paying. £2OO a year for the Wharepoa ferry if it was allowed to remain there. Mr Henry said that s,uch.a person would-have to put up a, substantial, bond. Mr W, Thompson said he was positive that the County Council; had no idea what the takings of. any of. the ferries were. He would assert that the takings at the Wharepoa ferry were 100' per cent, more than the receipts df the Netherton ferry.