N.P. CARGO SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 339, 15 March 1910, Page 5

N.P. CARGO SERVICE

SUGGESTED ALTERATIONS OF TIMETABLE. It is not our intention to open a controversy on the question of the respective merits of Patea and New Plymouth ports to importers; that question each, as a matter of business, can quickly lettle for himself. This much we must say, however, that the increasing volume of imports passing regularly over the New Plymouth wharves quite fails to bear out the statements made in some quarters that trade is being diverted to Patea to any 'appreciable extent. Such as might be, we are assured, is to be closely enquired into to discover the .reason, for, despite the fact that our regular freight service, by boats of considerable tonnage, from Wellington is only a bi-weekly one, it has not yet been shown that any inconvenience suifleient to warrant a diversion of trade through Patea has taken place. If, therefore, such diversion is taking place, there must be some other reason or inducement, and it should soon be possible to counteract the alleged tendency, ir such is within the ability of the Union Steam Ship Company or the local harbor and railway authorities. We understand that several schemes to improve the frequency of the service are under consideration, but meantime, if any desire is expressed for it locally, the Union Steam Ship Company is prepared to make an alteration in the existing timetable that should to some extent assist shippers. The running of the Corinna, which is engaged in the produce trade, and of the Koonya, which completes the round trip of the South Island, to and from New Plymouth, cannot be altered, but in the case of the Rosamond there is no difficulty in the way of altering the sailing-day from Wellington to Thursday. Under this arrangement it. 'would mean that southern cargo would be unloaded at New Plymouth on Tuesday and Saturday and on Friday and Saturday respectively in alternate weeks. .As we have indicated, other schemes are under consideration, but at present nothing definite has been decided upon.