The Daily News SATURDAY, MARCH 27. THE STEAMER SERVICES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 53, 27 March 1909, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, MARCH 27. THE STEAMER SERVICES.

The steamship companies are to be commended fo r their action in bringing the fares between New JlMymouth and Onehunga into liii e with the fares ruling elsewhere for similar journeys. Jt would certainly have been belter hud the reduction' been made before the Main Trunk service entered into competition. Then probably much oi the trallic that hats been locst to the sea route during the past couple of months would have been retained. Without the competition, however, the charges should have been appreciably reduced long ago. Awakening to the possibility of their losing all the passenger trade it' the high charges were retained, the companies have now risen to the occasion and gone even further than what we believe the public regarded as a reasonable reduction, they having reduced the rate to that obtaining; in connection with the Wellmgtun-LyttcUon service, viz., 20s saloon single, 35s saloon return, I*>n steerage single, and 22s (id steerage return —a reductiou practically of "2") per cent.—and paying the whole of the harbor passenger tax. We hope the eo«K'e*i>ion will achieve its object. The Union Company is taking oil' one of its vessels, for the winter months at any rate, and there will in future be a five days' iu-stead of a six days' service, the Tuesday sailing hcing eliminated from the time-table. This is to be regretted, but, in view of the altered condition*, tlic course was inevitable. We understand the Northern Company will continue the running of the Rarawa as at present, what the company will do in the future being dependent upon the amount of trade offering and the number of passengers patronising the service. The companies announce an increase in freights between Wellington, New Flymouth and Onehunga. Hitherto the rate has been 10s per ton; in future, this will be 12s (id, the name rate, we understand, as charged between Wellington and Lyttelton. Whilst the Union Company is withdrawing one vessel from the New Plymouth-Onchunga service, it is, we are glad to learn, instituting an additional service, which will considerably benefit Taranaki. For some time £ past Taranaki merchants have been en-

dcavoring to arrange a direct service from the Blulf. The company in making provision fo r this. The Koonya is to leave th ( . BlulT fortnightly, calling at the coastal ports on tlio way up. The present running of the Cot'inna from the South and Wellington will not he altered. so instead of a fortnightly service from the South we will have a weekly one, with the added advantage of a regular service from as tar south as the UlnIT. To Taranaki merchants this, as we have said, will mean a considerable benefit, the difference between a direct and -transhipment service representing quite fifty per cent. Tie* Koonya. will also provide a new cargo service from New Plymouth to Nelson, Westport and Clreymonth. This arrangement will make fo r the development of trade between Taranaki and the West Coast, to the advantage 'of each district. On the whole. Taranaki has no cause for complaint over the new arrangements. What we may lose by the taking oil' of one of the steamer* between liv.iv and Oneluingii will, we think, be more than made up bv the improved ami new cargo services. The passenger traliic. with cheap fares ruling. and the. improving of the railway service between New Plymouth and Wellington, is bound to increase, slowly perhaps at first, but none the less steadily, and if Taranaki continue to ilevelop as it has been dvvcloping during I Ik-past five years, we have little doubt that the trade and passenger traffic will in the course of time be such as to warrant a considerable extension of the itcamer scrvieeu.

ON THE FOURTH PAGE. Sporting. Tne .Mails. Patriotism. Commercial. Piako Swamp. District News. AVediling Bells. Fruit-Growing. (leueral Cables. Hille Shooting. Army Training. Church Services. Kami tiiid Dairy. Dr. fioodo's Case. The German Navy. Prevention of h'ires. liussian Secret Police. Taranaki Anniversary. Sale of Bailway Land-.