WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 207, 29 August 1912, Page 7

WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

WA__OHAI__A__OJT STXtOliGirr ADVOCATED. __3SORASC_f_S. (By ParUat_e_taTy Beportar.) . WELLINGTON, Wedn-aflaj-Several emphatic opinions were extracted from members to-day whale the suggestion to nationalise- the Wangan-ui river steamboat service was being discussed by the House. Mr. Pearce (Patea) declared! that -the present iriver service monopoly was robbing the Betttens along the riv«r. He hoped there would be a possibility of the Government getting out of the exiafeig contract, as complaints were loud not only from the settlers but from tourists. Unless they could get better protection for the settlers ho considered the Government should obtain new steamers-and' start their own service. Dr. Newman also protested strongly against the present position, which, be s—id, had been maintained in spite of the repeated' protests of mcrnbers Ifor the past four years. Mr. Wilford said that he would like to see State comrnu-tication by rail and steamer from I-nvercorgill bo North Auckland. Were the Government debaerred under (Uie present contract from puttting steamers on the Wanganui River Hon. R. M!____i-ie: No, you can- put on as marry as you like. Mr. Wiljford: Well. Mr. Maseey said in Iflll that if the Governmemt wwuld put on two Htea«ner» he would 1 support tbom in doing it. Was the hem. gantleman still of the same mind? The jnemI ber for Hutt also pro4e»bed the habit of calling tbe beautiful ami unequalled Wanganui "The Kbine of New Zealand.*' The Rhine was in, .no sense a beautiful or attractive river, and to liken the Wanganui to it would not attract visitors from Kurope. The Prime Minister, an reply, stated that 'both the Lands and the Postal Departments contributed to hhe Wanganui River serrviee, which _ re—derad the position somewhat peculiar. During the recess he intended to look into the matter. Unfortunately the present contract had 2_ years to run. but he was resolved to see that the provisions of the contract so far as the interests of the settlers was concerned .wen? rigidly enforced. If at the end of the 2J years years the present sen-ice was not very greatly improved he would undertake, providing the present Govea-nment were still in power, Olwt the service should he taken over by the- State. Jlr. W. A. Veitch. (Wanganui) stated that tho Answer was disa|_K>rn-in£.; While the present contract continued! there could be no satisfactory arrangement. Even if compensation was • paid it would be advisable to cancel the contract. An hninense amount of money had been spent by the Government on the improve of the river and advertising its seeiric heamties. and it was not proper that the .benefits should po to a private concern. Bctforo an agreement was entered into the people of Wanganui should have Jcnown. What was proposed. A boat was being built to run in opposition tr. the present service, and its owners should have had a clian.-c ; of showing what they were prepared to do. The Hon. B- McTvenr-ie recommended the Government to push on the rood construction along the river route. This would be the quickest means of giving relief to the settlers. The Stratford railway line would also assist in that way. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes (PostmastffrGeneral) wtatfid tlrat although be bad not sigued the contract with Messrs. Hatrick and Co., letters which liad passed between the Department and the contractors amounted to a contract. He hoped the Minister of Railways would consider the advisability of running the Wanganui River service as part of the general system of State Tai]w»ys.

by rail and