RE RIVER LIMIT COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 3

RE RIVER LIMIT COMMISSION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Since giving evidence on the above question I have come to the conclusion that the masters who possess the "Home grade" certificate are desirous to disqualify those for service in their limits who do not. Now, the extra amorTiC of problems required for the "Home trade" ticket, in addition to the river limit, I believe amounts to about three, and any sailor who has passed the fourth standard should accomplish this in a very short time. Some eighteen months past, on a stormy night, a large steamer from a foreign port was seen by a fisherman to be in a helpless condition in the Gulf. He at once ran alongside, and boarded the vessel at request of the captain, whom he soon relieved from further anxiety by piloting him safely to anchorage. It is fair to say the captain of the steamer had neither local chart nor book of directions, and cculd not obtain a pilot. This case proves that the uncertificated man in the Gulf i 3 as good as the certificated one, and very often a little better. Now, Captain ■ S., of the Coastal Company, made a remark that freight and passage, money would be raised if the extended river limits were curtailed, - 'and settlers could not afford this. Now, this has been done by the Northern S.S. Company, perhaps in view of curtailment. For instance, the Waiheke return fare, including one meal, costs 9/3, a rise of 2/ since the Commission sat, which works out about 3d. per mile. The Union Company give a Sydney return in a floating palace, with food and attendants equal to a firstclass • hotel, for about Id. per mile, and this company carry a wealthy class of people, while the majority of the Northern Company's passengers consist of the struggling settler. Sir J. Ward, speaking at Rotorua, said that if people did not keep their remunerative values in fair limits, it would be his duty to protect the interests of the travelling public. Now, the Farmers' Union should represent this to the Hon. Minister, and inform him that the public will not travel to look at land within the limits of Northern S.S. Company trade on account of their exorbitant charges, and this is causing the young to leave the coastal settlements, and the old to settle down to an aboriginal mode of life. Therefore, the prosperity of the Northern and Eastern coasts of this island is being greatly retarded by unfair rates. —I "am," etc., : ' " W. RUTHE. BuHj.-& JaißEd,