THE FERRY SERVICE. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1912, Page 8

THE FERRY SERVICE. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Several ratepayers having.asked me whether the Mayor, Mr. Shortt, had conducted the recent negotiations with the Ferry Company without reference to the council, I desire, in fairness to Mr. Shortt, to make it known thai his Worship interviewed the. manager of the company on the day t following the announcement of the rice in the fares, and was asked to meet the directors at a meeting to be arranged ; that Mr. Shortt made this known in the following week to the council, who. decided to leave the matter in his hands for tho time being and await the result of his action. At the Mayor's request I attended at his meeting with the directors to obtain a reduction in fares, and I believo_ other councillors and ratepayers were invited to attend. With reference to another matter I have heard mentioned, I think it fair to state that I have heard the present Mayor advocate a daily ten o'clock night boat before he became Mayor and before lie entered upon any business that required his presence in the city in the evening. A reduction in fares to the old rates, if the reduction could have been obtainedf would have been of more service to the district than the extra, night boats, but, as the reduction could not be obtained, better the daily night boat .in return for our increased .fares than nothing.—l am, etc., ' W. J. ORGAN.. Wellington, 23rd April.