All-Night Vehicle Ferries Suggested

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 878, 23 January 1930, Page 1

All-Night Vehicle Ferries Suggested

TRIANGULAR ROUTE BENEFIT TO NORTH SHORE That an all-night vehicular ferry service, which would also serve passengers, should he operated to the North Shore in place of the present night launch was a suggestion made at a meeting of the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce by the president, Mr. S. C. Kennings. Mr. Kennings said a triangular service with the ferry leaving the Freeman’s Bay landing and travelling to Northcote, thence to Devonport, would perhaps be the most suitable. Another member held it would be a better scheme for the ferry to work from the Mechanic’s Bay landing with a motor service connecting from some convenient point in the city. When Interviewed this morning, Mr. Kennings said he had already had one or two informal interviews with various “heads” of the Devonport Ferry Company concerning the proposal and they were giving it every consideration. It was felt, however, that an allnight vehicular ferry service may be far from a paying proposition for it would be necessary to have some conveyance for the passengers from the city to the landing stages, whether it be either at Mechanic’s Bay or Freeman’s Bay. At present one man could run the night launch, while with the ferry it would take at least three men, and this would consequently mean extra expense. Mr. Kennings said although there were certainly some difficulties in the way of starting the service he felt there would be sufficient cars and passengers to make it pay, while in the case of rushing an ambulance or other such vehicles to the shore on any occasions of emergency an allnight vehicular service would be invaluable. “The ferry company has always treated us well and any reasonable suggestions we have made have been usually accepted. I realise the difficulties here, but I feel that with further consideration it will be decided to establish the service, which would mean much to all the North Shore suburbs,” concluded Mr. Kennings.