SHIPPING FACILITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1920, Page 4

SHIPPING FACILITIES.

NEW PLY MOUTH—ONEHU'NGA SERVICE. ~ BETTER STEAMER WANTED, The necessity for an improvement in the steamer service between New Plymouth and Onehunga was again discussed by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, at the quarterly meeting held last evening. A report was made by Mr. J. Patoa regarding representations made by him to tin: headquarters of the company at Auckland, with the object of having the' Rinm withdrawn and the Rarawa substituted ( as speedily 'as possible. He was informed tluit the liarawa's overhaul would commence on September 11, 'Mid * that the vessel would probably be ba<>K on this service bv the end of the mouth, The company's manager had stated tbftt in future, if they had occasion to take the Rarawa off the New Plymouth run, the Xgapuhi would be put on, and with the latter ship a tri-weekly service could be maintained and the trip done ip ttn hour less. During the ensuing discussion members referred to the total inadequacy of tba Rimti for such an important service, and it was mentioned that recently the ship had been unable to cope with passengers. If the sailing time waa after the arrival of the. mail train the position would be 'even worse. The chairman (Mr. T. C. List) tX: pressed die opinion that if a really good service were established, the traffic and trade would follow. Lack of faitli sad enterprise in the past had been reswna!hle for the comparative failure of tin service. Air. 0. Fraser said he did not think t-iie Chamber should acquiesce la the substitution of the Ngapuhi, which was not a good boat for the service. It had been stated that the Rarawa was not paying, but if the trade had gone back it wss simply because the, public was BfWf catered for. He believed that, if a Mtt« able boat was running, the camfnag would be surprised to find what passettger trade would develop between, Plymouth and Onehunga. It was decided to lodge a further -pretest to the company against the tmt< ment being meted out to the port, Mi the necessity for the Rarawa taldaf up the running again at the earliest opportunity.