OUR SHIPPING SERVICES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 157, 28 July 1909, Page 3

OUR SHIPPING SERVICES

REPLr TO MR. GOODACRE. StMiS' p-' Uudd ' «g»t "f the Union aud 3 - c - Webster, agent of the Northern Steamship Cominoutl1 ' at ated to a ref 3t , crda >' that Mr. Goodacrc wWn h be , Under a Misapprehension when he made his remarks about the shipping services on Monday night, ilr Goouaere they said, had Zvidently f.ot s «^*ATzn^,"s,;'s; hat the time-table of the Karawa tad SlftS and woifld, from Mday ß T o r\t%orth iD l ead °' tfe runn- ° bSerVed " SOmi! the public, an? Z* an alteration at .tho first opportunity fboutThe'"- Was made locall y to them when th, , m » nVtment ru,m ">& »ut wnen the matter was represented to would 1? n Auckland thll t the change ateli fell ii° re 'H 0n r mt *' ,t th,: >' ™medi. ately fell in w,tl, the suggestion. In conversation, it was gleaned tluit the earnings of the Rarawa in her preTd thT'V'" 6 ,UOat diai *«tem'ig, <rad tlmt unless an improvement tuok place some alteration would be necesht l ß 'd that it would not be necessary to replace the Kara,, a oy It il'/l 7 re chea P'j" run steamer. It should be borne m m ind that the shipping companies now carried the burden of the passenger tax, namely, 2s per head single and 4s return. This, of course, had to be deducted from the ships earnings. Messrs. Rudd and Webster sta.ed that the competition of the radway had most seriously affected the earnings of the steamers, which could I not compete successfully against the low railway freights and fares. Under these circumstances they greatly regretted the remarks made, for the companies were endeavoring to provide the best possible service under most disadvantageous conaitions.. j

With regard to the freight service from Wellington, the Union Company had placed the Rosamond in the trade as a special cargo-carrier. Her. earnings so far had not been very encouraging, but it was hoped that they would improve and so cnab.e her to continue running. The company was now providing a bi-weekly service from Wellington, the same as was in force between Auckland and NeW Plymouth. The Koonya was, unfortunately, sometimes delayed at Greymouth by the bad bar, and this was equally disastrous to the company as to the public. Mr. Rudd was not yet able to announce what arrangements would be made during the summer months for the carriage of butter and cheese, but, of course, the Corinua would in any case be .kept running. The company, he concluded, would make every provision to meet the requirements of the port in that direction.

Mr. Rudd further pointed out, in replyto Mr. Goodacre's statement to the effect that the Union Company had abandoned the New Plymouth-Onehunga trade, that his company had not' done so. but had a joint interest with the Northern Company in the Rarawa's running.