WANGANUI RIVER

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 206, 28 May 1938, Page 16

WANGANUI RIVER

Access For Settlers On Right Bank

REQUEST TO MINISTER

Dominion Special Service.

Wanganui, May 27

A deputation from the Waijganui Tourist and Development League and the Waitptara County Council is to wait on the Minister of Public Works. Hon. R. Semple, next Tuesday, to make representations on tbe transfer of the mail contract for up-river Wanganui from steamer to road- Settlers on the right bank of the river complain that the cessation of the steamer services, due to the cancelling of the .mail contract, has deprived them of access.

Recently the Wanganui Tourist and Development League received a petition from 20 se’ttlers on the right bank of the river stating that since the stoppage of the river service they have no means of getting their produce to market except when an occasional steamer is taking wool. It was impossible to send cream to the factory except by taking it across the river in a boat and carrying it up to the road on the eastern side of the river. It was also necessary to cross the river to collect mail.

“.Schooling for children is another difficulty confronting anyone who contemplates living here and bringing up a family,” stated the petition. “Settlers were induced to come here originally in the belief that there would always be some means of communication. The river steamers supplied this for 40 years, and the service has now been stopped without any alternative means of transport. Thus, so far as we are concerned, conditions have gone back to something worse than those which existed at the enfl of last century. “Ministers of the Crown have expressed an intention of giving all backblock settlers metalled roads, but what about those who have no road at all? Surely it was not intended that they should be deprived of their only outlet and nothing done to provide any other? With the large sums now being expended elsewhere, it is felt that something might be done to assist the people here.” The steamer service between Wanganui and Pipiriki was discontinued about 18 months ago, and since that time settlers on the right bank have had to cross the river to connect with the road.

The owners of the Wanganui River steamer service, R. S. Hatrick and Company, state that a subsidy of £l5OO will be necessary for them to continue the service.