Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1894. The Ferry.

Manawatu Herald, 10 March 1894, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1894. The Ferry.

The ways of tenderers are hard to understand, and owing to the peculiar way they construed the condition a for leasing the Wirokino ferry the Borough Council had no choice in acting. It wa« generally considered by those moving in the direotion of lowering the tolls at the ferry that increased business would result to the ferry, and the Council invitecl aliarnafce ieedei'3 for kolte at the old rates and at a reduced rate, the reductions amounting to no more than twenty-five per cent of the original tolls. It was expected, not unreasonably, that tenderers would give less for the ferry at the reduced ncale, but taking into consideration the probability of increased traffic, | their tenders would not represent | the full amount of the reductions, : but three old ferrymen arrived at I the conclusion, by the offers they made, that by reducing the tolls, traffic would be discouraged I and ; that though the ferry at the old tolls was worth £95 a ytar, yet at a | reduction of 2G per cent, it was worth more than £60 ! very nearly 60 per cent difference. We should very much like to know what caused the tenderers to take this view, as the other too made nearly a similar redaction between the two rates, one being £72 10s old rate and £40 new rate, and tht other £70 old rate and £40 new rate, as it appears a dtcided novtlty, and if based on any tangible principal it would apptar that to induct people to use a ferry, it would bt btst to inereast the oharget . It it however exceedingly unfortunate that this view was taktn by tht tenderers at it prevented the good desire of the Borough being fulfilled. We do not *as yet comprehend how the tenderers arrived at their conclusion?, and- unless the matter is made clear, it would appear most advisable that the Borough work the ferry for a year on their own responsibility and thus get some insight into tht hidden wonders of ferry traffic.