NEW PLYMOUTH-ONEHUNGA SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH-ONEHUNGA SERVICE.

THE INADEQUATE RIMU. Bitter complaints are made by travellers of the inadequacy of the accommodation on the Rimu, now running in the New Plymoutli-Onehunga service. At present a good many people are travelling, and the little boat is almost invariably overcrowded. On Thursday night, for inslanco, tliree women and six children were crowded into the smoke room, which is of very limited proportions. The vessel has normal accommodation for about 20 persons. Lately between 50 and fiO people have been crowded in. The result can well be imagined.

At yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce a letter was received from the general manager of the Northern Steamship Company in nply to 'the Chamber's representations regarding the withdrawal of the Rarawa and the substitution of the Rimu, in which he expressed the hope that the Rarawa would be back in her former service about the middle of August, and statrl that the Rimu was serving the purpose and carrying all the cargo offering.

Members dissented from this view, stating that the Rimu could not deal with the present traffic, let alone the traffic that would be available were a better and bigger boat on the service. They stated that great, numbers of people were using the train in preference ro sailing by the Rimu and enduring the attendant discomforts and inconveniences. At the same time, pleasure was expre?ied that the Rarawa was soon to be reinstated.