STEAMER SERVICE

NGAPUHI TO BE TAKEN OFF

ALTERATION AFTER EASTER.

Owing to the falling off of pas‘senger bookings by the S.S. Ngapuhi between Tauranga and Auckland the directors of the Northern S.S. Company have decided to take tnat vessel off this run and replace her with the A.S. Ronaki. It is unfortunate that this step is necessitated by the Company. Motor competition appears to have been the chief factor, not only by the service cars, but private cars especially have made inroads on this source of the Company's rea-

enue. The facilities offered by sea travel during the night between Auckland and Tauranga have been in vogue for many years, and it will be a definite retrograde step in so far as Tauranga and the coast districts are concerned. It must also reduce Harbour Board revenue.

When seen this morning Mr B. P. Andrews, agent for the Northern S.S. Company in Tauranga, said he very much, regretted that this important step had been dbeided upon by the Company, but in view of the paucity of passenger traffic and the loss of back loading in U c shape of l butter, it was inevitable, and would come into operation immediately after ’ the Easter hcl.’days. Mr Andrews said further that the fares had been reduced to lie low tho Railway rate in prefer to popularise the ferry service, Let there had been no appreciable iesuit, which inclined him to think that the private car was the real reason for the falling off, although the Company had a serious competitor in tho Railway Department. When the coastal train services were revised about twelve months ago, they were specially designed to suit railway travel, and at the same time prevent those steamer passengers .who .usually travelijqd by train to Tauranga arriving in time to connect with the ferry service.

The effect of discontinuing the passenger service will be that the Harobur Board will lose its present revenue from the passenger traffic, and will also have a reduced revenue from berthage charges and port dues owing to smaller tonnage vessels being placed in the service.

In so far as tho general cargo revenue is concerned’,” said Mr Andrews, “that remains just about the same owing to the fact that the Railway Department can only compete in what be termed the losing freight class, particularly manure. The Railway Department carry this class of goods at a rate to the Department by subsidy out of the general taxes. No private company has such a source to draw upon.”

The Ngapuhi will make her last trip on Tuesday next. Taking her off the run means total abandonment of the passenger traffic between here and Auckland to the railway and motor services. “This we regret,” said Mr Andrews, “particularly in view of the fact that we offered to the dairy factories, in the district, a lower rate than was offered by the Railway Department The retention of that freight would 1 certainly have been the means of keeping the Ngapuhi on the run.”

The time-table arranged for the Ronald is that she will leave Auckland on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m., arriving here on Thursdays and Sundays at 8 a.m.. She will leave here on Mondays and Thursdays at 4 p.m., arriving at Auckland at 9 a.m. the following days.

The Ronaki is an auxiliary schooner, capable of carrying 300 tons of cargo, worked from two hatches. She is a twin screw vessel with three masts, giving her a good sail area, and registers '9 knots under power. The vessel has only recently been purchased by the Northern Steamship Company, and will well servo the cargo requirements of this district.