POPULARISING THE PORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 216, 18 October 1909, Page 2

POPULARISING THE PORT.

Me wore pleased to observe that t!i< Harbor IJoaru at its last meeting showed a disposition to meet the request of lip shipping companies that the passenger lax should be reduced. In the circumstances of the Hoard's finances, which for some time to come will require careful husbanding, it was quite obvious that there was no present likelihood of the tax being abolished, and it would have been unwise to have offered a biggjr rebate than the 15 per cent, the Board decided 'upon. Whether or not the companies will consent to avail themselves' of the benefit of the concession, which only becomes operative in :.ne event of a tri-weekly Onehunga service being established, and continues .aw long i as such service is maintained, there is at present no means of ascertaining. | Ihe present bi-weekly service is an exceedingly unsatisfactory one, and certainly not calculated to popularise the route in its competition with the overland railway journey. With the advent of the a'ummer season, however, and travellers catered for with a tri-wcek 1 ..

service combined with present reason-1 able fares, we have every confidence the srvice would regain much of its old connection. The companies should by thoroughly conversant with the Board's financial position, and it is to be hoped they will accept the conditional rebate as the best that in the circumstances can be offered at present. There is another matter in connection with the port that should receive serious cou-l sideration by the Board. It is common 1 talk that anything but •harmonious relations exists between vessels trading to the port and certain of the Board's responsible officials. It is almost as im portant for the good of the port thai, there should be satisfactory relations between the companies' and the Board's officials, as that the business relations between the companies and the Hoard should be such as to encourage mutual development.