BAYS’ FERRY SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8348, 7 February 1913, Page 8

BAYS’ FERRY SERVICE

SUBSIDY REQUIRED. CONSIDERED BY THE MIRAMAR COUNCIL, With a view of continuing and improving the ferry service to the bays the Miramar Borough Council last 4 evening considered the question of subsidising the service. ~ A special committee reported on tea cost of extending the Beatoun tramway to Worser Bay. After they consideied. that they should confer with the terry Company as to the service. Mesdames Doughty and Blair prisented a largely signed petition from the residents of Seatoun, JKaraka, Scorching and Worse? Bays roiaesting that the council give the proposal of subsidising tbe ferry service earnest consideration with a view to retaining and improving it. They fully realised that if the ferry service ceased their means of communication with the city was practically out oft and their properties would become valueless as permanent residences for city business people. The alternative proposal of extending the tramway line to Mars ball's Point would be a most expeusive one. besides being costly to operate, and if completed to the terminus mentioned would mean a walk of nearly a mile for a largo number of residents in these bays. It had also to be remembered that the time oocujiied by the tram oars . in traversing this long ruq from the city would lie in the region of forty minutes. They hoped the council would not allow the ferry service to bo cut off for a matter of a -£2OO or .£3OO subsidy. Council 1 or Bowie said that the committee had interviewed the company in relation to the subsidy- They had suggested £2OO, and it appeared as though they would sooner take the boats oil than accept the subsidy. The council’s representatives tried to get the amount reduced, but were unsuccessful, and th* company suggested that tho. trial should be for three months. Afterwards it was suggested that it should bo eighteen mouths with three months’ notice on either side of the termination of the agreement. That would include two winters and would give the service a proper trial. He came to the conclusion that the boats would be taken off unless the subsidy was given. He moved that they offer the Ferry Company £2OO provided they run the Cobar for eighteen months subj ect to three months’ notice on either SideCouncillor Grigg said that if they subsidised tho service they should have a clause put in the agreement giving the council power to lease or purchase tho boat. The deputy Mayor asked if the council could legally subsidise tho service. ■ The town clerk replied that they were entitled to pay 1 per cent, on tho rates. Personally he thought £2OO was rather too much. Councillor Telford pointed out that this amount, together with what the Ferry Company received from residents, would pay interest on a substantial loan for tramways. The deputy Mayor suggested the matter should be loft over for consideration by tho works committee, which consisted of the whole council, and it could meet early next week. This was agreed to.