ROAD-RAIL FERRY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 12

ROAD-RAIL FERRY

Concern Over Car Rates

The “apparently small” reduction in the cost of taking cars on the projected inter-island road-rail ferry btween Picton and Wellington, compared with present charges for the LytteltonWellington steamer express, will be taken up by the South Island Motor Union with the Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine). The union will tell him it is “perturbed” at the figures so far issued, and will ask him whether wharfage and other services will be covered by the charges. “The ferry was supposed to make it easier for cars to circulate between the islands, but with the published scale of charges it is most unlikely to do much towards achieving this,” said Mr F. W Parker (Marlborough). Mr G. W. Ferens (Otago) said the return cost of taking a small car to the North Island would apparently be only 5s cheaper than now—£lo 2s against £lO 7s. No concession had been announced for a return journey. The union decided to ask its constituent associations for their reactions to a proposal by the North Island Motor Union for a national motoring organisation. This would guide the South Island union when considering the proposal at its half-yearly meeting next month.