SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1919, Page 2

SHIPPING FACILITIES.

THE ONEHUNGA SERVICE. At the meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board held yesterday, a letter was received from the Northern Steamship Company to the effect that the Board's reqv.est for the Rarawa to *be run three times per week between Onehunga and New Plymouth could not be acceded to, as such a service was not profitable without the aid of the Government mail carriage subsidy. It was pointed out that even in holiday seasons the passenger accommodation was ample for all purposes. It was admitted that there had been some congestion of cargo, but that had been due to large consignments of cement and manure offering. This had been relieved by a special trip made by the Aupouri. The delays through adverse weather were inevitable. Under ordinary circumstances the Rarawa was able to carry all the traffic | offering in two trips per week. The congestion at Onehunga during the time the Rimu had been carrying on the service had been cleared, and if the Rarawa had been running the amount of cargo would not have filled her hold. Attention was called to the fact that when the time of departure and arrival was timed for the same day, three hours were occupied in coaling, which did not leave much time for handling cargo. To run three trips per week would involve the company in heavy loss and would mean the spreading over three trips cargo which could be carried in two. The two trips were not profitable. For these reasons the Company was not able to accede to the request of the Board. It had, however, always been the policy of the company to keep pace with the development of the districts served by their boats. A letter on the subject was also received from Mr. Massey, who, at the Board's request, had put the matter before the Company, and their reply to him was on the si|ame lines as the letter to the Board. In view of that he said no further action could be taken at the present time. The matter would be noted for attention when a suitable opportunity offered. The chairman remarked that the point the management seemed to overlook was that the running of three trips per week would develop both passenger and cargo traffic.