THE COASTAL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 18 November 1911, Page 2

THE COASTAL SERVICE.

SOME IMPROVEMENT DEMANDED. A deputation, consisting of about fifteen members of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, waited on Mr. Pearson, local manager of the Union Steamship Company, yesterday, with regard to some improvement in connection with the. coastal shipping service, particularly between New Plymouth and Wellington, which has given much dissatisfaction of late.

Mr. S. W. Shaw, president, pointed out that the object of the deputation was to complain of the great inconvenience suffered by local business people through the irregularities in the coastal' service, principally between Wellington and New Plymouth, by the, Rosamond. This vessel appeared to be quit* unable to keep to her time-table.when the weather was rough. It had taken her 40 hours to come up from Nelson last week, and nearly 50 hours to come from Onehunga this week. The Koonya was sometimes, he recognised, delayed unavoidably by bar harbors on the West Coast, but he thought most of the inconvenience would be overcome if a more powerful steamer than the Rosamond were placed on the run.

Mr. Pcnn said that the local business people liad no desire to fall out with the Union Company now, as they recognised that the company had served them well in the past. Their patience was now exhausted, and if the present representations did not result in an improvement, the Chamber might find it necessary to call a public meeting and make stronger representations. Mr. Newton King pointed out that the local business people had been loyal to the Union Company, and had a good case for a better service.

Mr. Baker said that his patience was now utterly exhausted. He had given up worrying; and just waited till his goods came along. Messrs Ambury and Teed also spoke, the former commenting on the fact that goods transhipped from the lonic at Wellington took 16 or 17 days before they arrived in New Plymouth." Mr. Pearson, in response, said that this was a matter for the head office to deal with. He promised that he would fqrward on the representations that had been made k> him and use his utmost endeavors to see them carried out. After *thanking Mr. Pearson, the reputation withdrew.