Railways Ferry Service

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 14

Railways Ferry Service

Sir, —Soon after the Christmas holidays the department blamed its few sailings during that period on staffing problems. It said that extra sailings would begin in February. There are still no extra sailings. As for staff, I find this hard to believe, as the ferries are being blamed for putting coastal shipping out of business, not to mention the North American services. It can not be because of the falling off of business, for I remember reading that South Island consignors were

being asked to withold goods, as the ships could not hold any more at that time. I also understand that consignors are budgeting for a considerable increase this year. It would therefore appear there is a muddle somewhere as we have ships lying idle from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m, goods stacking up, and crews without work. What does all this add up to? In spite of these facts the rail ferry is the only part of the services that has been able to reduce fares.—Yours, MR MICAWBER. April 16, 1967. [The district traffic manager of the Railways Department (Mr M. R. Leineweber) replies: “Although there was a temporary unsatisfied demand for space for north-bound cargo on the rail-road ferries Aramoana and Aranui for two or three weeks after the Christmas holidays, the two vessels have since coped with all traffic offering—in fact, more cargo could have been handled had it been available. The necessity for extra trips has therefore not arisen.”]