The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1919. ONEHUNGA FERRY SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1919. ONEHUNGA FERRY SERVICE.

It is not surprising that the New Plymouth Harbor Board should, at its meeting yesterday, take action with reference lo the insufficiency of the ferry service between the port and Onelumga. It is Dot a case of the people "being asleep," as Mr. Wilkinson queried: they are powerless to mend this shipping deficiency except by acquiring and running an opposition service, and that would naturally be only as a last resort. There exist, and have existed for a long time past, ample grounds for the strong disapproval of the Board at the treatment this district is receiving at the hands of the shipping companies. These companies have a monopoly, and this evil is productive of the usual result—the public suffer. Hitherto they have refused to run three trips a week, on the ground that it would not pay to do so, yet cargo Is repeatedly cut out, a sure indication that a more frequent service is necessary. Naturally the companies are out after profit as represented by a full booking of passengers, but as' common carriers there is an implied obligation to take, the law of averages. During the railway cut they promptly ran three trips a week, not for the benefit of the public, but for the extra profit derived. It is perfectly certain that if the people of Taranaki acquired a suitable steamer or steamers, there would be three trips a week to and from the north. The trade of the district necessitates such facilities, and the shipping companies should either give an

adequate service or leave it alone. Mr. Wilkinson stated that the question had been discussed by a section of members of Parliament, the opinion being expressed that it should not rest entirely with the shipping companies as to what services they should rim, and that if they were not prepared to cater for requirements, then the Government itself should step in and run the ships. A better scheme, perhaps, would be for the Government to procure suitable vessels for the ferry services of the Dominion, and lease them to the authorities of the ports concerned; otherwise, at the time of a railway cut there might also be a steamer cut, and the position of the public would be worse than under present arrangements. The resolution passed by the Harbor Board, requesting the Northern Company to run three trips a week instead of two, and pointing out the inconvenience and loss caused by cargo being at present shut out on every trip, was the natural outcome of the discussion, but it can scarcely be deemed a "strong protest," nor would it be wise to be sanguine over the effect of the re- , quest. New Plymouth needs not only an ' adequate steamer service with Onehunga, , but with Wellington as well. The trade , of Taranaki is now so large that it needs much greater facilities of transport than formerly. It is only courteous to await the reply to the request before taking any further action. At the same time it should be understood that the time has arrived when something definite should be settled, and that abstract discussion shall lead to concrete action. As a copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Premier, it will afford him an opportunity of making a pronouncement on this matter of ferry services, for it is as much a national question as a local one, because it involves the policy . of the Government in relation to shipping monopolies and the remedy there- , for. It is possible the Government may be ready to help those who are willing to do their share towards helping themselves, and for that reason it would be well for those interested to consider the advisability of co-operating with the Government financially in providing the only effective remedy in sight.