THE WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 624, 29 September 1909, Page 8

THE WANGANUI RIVER SERVICE.

• Sir,—Public' tenders have • beon called for .at last for the mails to the.different points on the Hver. Private arrangements have, been made between tho Government and • the mail carrier for eighteen years, so. that' n'o':others had a show. •' •, Tho : first contract xhia. signed' during : November, "1890, and the mail service started on May . 24, 1802, allowing eighteen months to secure , the plant,: bat only four months'.havo been.- granted now .for-.any opposition to get steamers to run-the mails. The present, service has- often, been,-'most, strongly condemned. They '■ have ' received over JGIIOO per annum for many years for carrying, mails, and the stamps -- never' brought ."battw'that' amount—part: of' this ,came' from ' the,' Lands Department l ,with.'the' idea of ' inducing. settlement on the-river, but none took place for fourteen-years.; Several thousands of pounds have: been .spent, on the Tangarakau, against the, advice'of .'the ".then:resident engineer. . A mail.servico .which , cost iMOO.a'.yoar was run by',;the.. same..firm for several.years to' that place, and there'were only a.few.letters for tho:snagging party.. All. that .money .has.been lost as that' creek is in a, worse' state-than ever. More, than have been ,6pe'nt',' (md the result. is . a complete Monopoly for ono firm. • 'The only'remedy .is what the.'settlers petitioned for in 1901,' viz.; that.-.the .Government control the. traffic. As .we are- giving battleships, sorely-we. ought to be able ; to protect our expenditure' on- the.'Wanganui .River. If it is correct that' the present'.contractors are 'in high favour 'with the Government, it is more than likely'that.tliero will be another live .years', monopoly, as,no- one-can compete under tho conditions,' as. tho time is far .too short. We-ought to have a'thorough examination 1 into all tho "circumstances in connection with this river., and,,; endeavour to find out what Us best in tho .'-interests of 'the people) : : : 'l',' am; otc., ' V/ I'KO BONO. September 27. . , ,