EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 137, 13 June 1938, Page 4

EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD.

DEVONPORT FERRY'S YEAR. FAVOURABLE WEATHER HELPS. MAY ADD TO FLEET. "During the period under review, I am pleased to report that, the company has had' an. exceptionally good year, chiefly due to the wonderful weather prevailing during the summer season. It probably has been the best , season regarding weather conditions experienced in Auckland for the, past 27 years—which conditions make -all the difference .to the revenue in a transport service suck as ours." Tliis. was the statement made to shareholders at the forty-third annual meeting of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, by the chairman of directors, Colonel W. jD. Holgate. The annual accounts, already | published'in the "Star," show that net profits totalled £10,939 and the directors | recommended payment of a dividend at the unchanged rate of 5 per ccnt.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman said both passenger and vehicular trafiic had increased, especially during the holiday period. Referring to industrial agreements, he said an agreement had been come to with the unions by negotiation and this would involve an addition of £3500 per annum to the wages bill.

During the year a new vehicular boat had been added .to the company's licet r.nd had proved to be satisfactory in every way. SAn amount of £2000 had been placed to a plant replacement account as some of the passenger steamers, though in good running order, were somewhat advanced in years and consequently would cost more to maintain in the future.

Owing to the recent labour legislation with regard to the shortening of hours," I continued the speaker, ''the peak loads, botli morning and evening, had been very i greatly increased during a shorter period of time, and for the remainder of the day and late evenings the loads have been lessened m consequence. The problem of' dealing economically with the reduced day ! and late evening number of passengers i will have to be dealt with, and your ! directoru arc, therefore, considering some addition of a' more modern design to the ilcct to meet this problem, but are not prepared at the present moment to indicate what type of .vessel will be con. structed. They are also considering the question of reconditioning one or two of °"l'i Present steamers, and fitting them with Diesel engines, . " If 41,0 vehicular traffic continues to increase, which is almost too much to e 'Vr.-' , wll Iconic neccs.sary to have addition:, l landing facilities. We feel sure that when the necessity arises tlic Harbour Board will meet the position as it has always done in the past." Sovcnteen New Buses. tl,?v Ua , i IH. th ° £ IT[lirs oi the susidiary, the Aort.li Shore Transport Company, the chauman stated that live new buses had been constructed nnd placed in commission during the financiiil year. Two more had been placed on the roads since April I;' an T c J' *°. U1 - m °re were under construction. It micht be necessary to cope with increasing business at Brown's Bay to service ° M "' ljuscs suitable for that Special Attractions.

Both the swimming pool and the Pirate Shipne had been well patronised, substantially increasing the'demands on the bus service. Ihe motor camp had proved a most successful undertaking, and nearly all the sites had already been booked for the coming season.