A COMPLAINT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2990, 30 January 1917, Page 6

A COMPLAINT

Sir, —As a passenger by the Maori from our port to Lytteltoii on December 25, I have somewhat to say regarding the management and treatment of would-bo passengers by tho TJ.S.S. Co. Tho steamer was posted to leave at 7.45, and tho office on the whaTf was timed to open at 7. I was there at 6, and there were some ahead of me. From then on the crowd grew until at 7 there must have been at least 150. At 7.5 the door opened, and the crush began. One clerk was supposed to do all the.work, and you can understand the sequel. I got inside tho door about 7.15, and got out again at 7.50, one of tho last to get a ticket, while at least fifty were loft behind. - The crush was so great that females in the crowd were crying out. If tho door had been opened at 6 o'clock everything could have gone on smoothly, and tho small expense for the extra hours' servico should not hurt the company. An official of tho Now South WalojL. Tailway whom I met on board next morning was disgusted with the treatment he), got, as although ho had a through ticket from Sydney to Dunedin he had to come off the steamer and stand jambed in the crowd on the wharf waiting for his turn to get up the gangway again. The night was fortunately fine; had it been wet you can imagine tho picnic. Hoping something better may be done before another holiday time comes round by the ventilation of the grievance in your columns, —I am, ' GEORGE J. MACKIE. Waitara, January 24, 1917. [The above letter was referred on to Mr. W. A. Kennedy, general manager in Wellington for the Union Company. Mr. Kennedy stated that time and again intending passengers by tho Lytteltoii ferry boats had been advised to get their tickets in advance at the company's offices. During the day there was plenty of time to book' passages, and when the office closed about 5 p.m. it took till nearly 7 p.m. to finish up the lists and berths in readiness to be sent to tho boat. Therefore it was impossible to open the wharf office until 7 p.m., as it would bo useless to book passengers until tho passenger list and plans wore available.]