EAST HARBOUR

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 8

EAST HARBOUR

TRANSPORT CONSIDERED

BOATS AND BUSES IN

COMPETITION

SERVICE TO BE EXTENDED TO

SEATOUN.

. The Eastbourne Borough Council, iwhich body controls the harbour ferry service, has decided to extend its operations 'to Seatoun and Karaka Bay, a venture which will be in to the city tramways. The general manager reported to last evening's meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council that a start would be made on Monday with the inauguration of the service. It had previously been decided to charge a return fare of Is 3d, with' a weekly ticket costing 5s 6d. After consideration by the Ferry Board, it had evidently been found that the proposed fare was too high, even taking into account the fact that the fare to" and from Eastbourne and Day's Bay is Is 6d, because at last evening's meeting Councillor Dawson moved the rescission of the fares mentioned. The general manager stated' that the Seatoun and Bays' Progressive Association had written suggesting that the fares should be Is return for adults 5s for. the weekly ticket, and 6d return for children. The association considered that, as the service would be in competition with the city's subsidised bus service and the tramways, it would be necessary to keep the fares down to the lowest possible scale. Councillor Dawson then moved that the fares be on the scale proposed by the Seatoun Association. This was seconded by Councillor, Jones, and carried without a great deal of discussion. 'BUS SERVICE TO EASTBOURNE. The proprietors of the Leyland Motors Ltd. wrote asking the council to reconsider its decision not to permit the present service, which runs to Day's Bay, to be i extended to Eastbourne The letter stated that a license fee of' £25 per annum was already paid to the Wellington City Council and to the Hutt County Councillor each charabanc used, and the,company were prepared to pay a similar license fee to the East .Harbour authority for the right to extend the service. ...■■. > The general manager intimated that considerable, correspondence had already taken place on the matter, and it had been suggested that a 'combined ' ticket for steamer and 'bus be issued. Ho thought the proposition worthy of' consideration. "' Councillor Jones strenuously opposed the issuing of such a license, stating that, the council was. itself a common carrying company, and the success of the fleet was most important to the borough. It was. a false move to allow .opposition to creep in. -The council already subsidised its local 'bus service,* and the proposal would bring about undue competition. Every pasßenger taken from the ferry boats and the local buses was a serious matter. He considered that a report should be prepared before anything was done. , . Councillor Levy pointed out that the council had- already decided to enter into competition with the city services on the other side of the harbour by means of visits to Seatoun and Karaka Bay. He considered that refusal to issue the license savoured of a dog-in-the-manger policy. ■'„.,,'" •''..'; Councillor Marquis expressed the opinion that the council could not' hope ] to make money out of the SeatounKaraka Bay service. It was only supplying a long-fe.lt want. ■• :_; .; Councillor Hartridge considered that if the license was granted the ladies .of Eastbourne would do their.,shopping at Petorie in detriment to Eastbourne retailers. .'. . ; The Acting-Mayor (Councillor H. W. Shortt). considered that the amount of the license would, not balance with the damage which would be done to the, roads. He suggested that the general manager should bring down a. report at next meeting on the subject. ■ The council decided to follow this, course. - , - HOLIDAY REVENUE. The general manager reported that the Muritai had carried 66,751 passengers lajt month. The vessel had made 118 trips, covering 1790 miles, the oil consumption being 96 tons for the month. The Duchess from 26th to 31st December carried 4832 passengers during 16 trips, covering 240 miles, with a coal consumption of 19 tons. The Cobar carried 34,999 passengers, as against 33,677 last year. The vessel covered 2985 miles during 199' trips, i burning 93.5 tons ofcoaL The number of passengers carried during December totalled 106,582, as,against 81,728 for the same period last year,1 an increase of revenue during the month of £713 15s 3d. The weather had been fine throughout the month, with ths exception'of last week, when a heavy southerly made it difficult to work Rona Bay. Some damage to the wharves, had and belting on the vessels had also been damaged. . The reconditioning of the Duchess had now been completed, continued the report, and the vessel was being used whenever possible; The cargo service was now in running order, and arrangements had been made for the carriage of coal. The Harbour Board prior to the holidays had charged £218 3s 3d for storing-, the boiler of the Duchesp, but after a protest by the ferry management this had been reduced to, £102 9s lOd. The council decided to pay the latter amount] MURITAI COLLISION.' Solicitors representing the New Zealand Shipping Company notified that the total cost of the damage . done to the Naringa as a result .of the Muritai's collision 'with the overseas vessel, amounted to £1585 14s 44d, taking the rupee as, worth 17J[d. This included demurrage, but not the cost of survey ing and repairs in Wellington; which had yet to .be added. It was stated that the surveyor representing the ferry authorities had estimated the damage at about. £800, while the company's surveyor put the cost down at £2700: "Apparently," said the Acting-Mayor, "they have split the difference." The Muritai was insured up to six-sevenths of any damage done. The letter was received. A requisition signed by 47 travellers on the 6.15 p.m ferry boat asked that the hour-of departure be altered to 5.50 p.m., as most shops now closed at 5.30. The general manager was instructed to report on the subject. ■