OVERCROWDING EXCURSION STEAMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 January 1914, Page 9

OVERCROWDING EXCURSION STEAMERS.

(To the Editor.) gr,—In your issue of Tuesday last ft letter appeared under the heading, "Overcrowded Ferry Boats," and signed "Public Safety," in Which the writer made a statement that one of my company's steamers which ran to Rangitoto last Sunday morning was so overcrowded 1 that, without exaggeration, there were hundreds on hoard in excess of the number the steamer was licensed to carry. This statement is absolutely incorrect; instead of there being hundreds in excess of the licensed number, no steamer of ours on Sunday last carried more than 75 per cent of the registered licensed number of passengers on any trip. "Pub- ■ lie Safety" and the public can rest Assured that in the first place the company will not on any occasion risk the safety of passengers by overcrowding, and further, the customs and harbour authorities, who are ever vigilant, take care that no overcrowding takes place. The fact that the company carries year in and year out so many hundreds of thousands pf passengers with perfect safety is in itself proof that every precaution is taken by the company to •ensure the safety of the travelling public. I invariably ignore replying to : anonymous correspondence, but as "Public Safety's" statement, ii not replied to, might be believed by some, I ask you to publish this refutation.—l am, etc., ALEX ALISON, ' i Manager.