LYTTELTON FERRY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 44, 20 August 1925, Page 5

LYTTELTON FERRY SERVICE

A CORRESPONDENT'S CRITICISM.

TO TUB EDITOR. A letter has been received by " The Post " from Mr. W. X. Young, general secretary Federated Seamen's Union, on the subject of the Lyttelton ferry service with special' reference to* the replacement of the s.s. Mararoa by the turbine steamer Wahine. The letter is too long to publish in extenso (it would occupy about two full columns), but the principal points raised by the correspondent are published. Mr. Young begins his letter: "Some few weeks ago an agitation was raised by a number of Southern members of Parliament to replace the Mararoa by the Wahine in the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service, and in support of that desirable purpose interviewed the Prime Minister and urged him to use his influence with the Union Company, and on the 16th July a letter over the signature of B. Van Staveren was published in the columns of ' The Post' in which he advocated the running of the Wahine, and, inter alia, politely suggested that fares be increased 2s 6d all round to meet the additional cost in running the latter vessel, and it was significant that in the same column and immediately following the letter was a statement from the general management of the company putting forth reasons for increasing fares if the Wahine was commissioned in lieu of the Mara- | loa, and in that connection dealt with certain services across the English channel to France and Belgium, and quoting fares and distances, but the statement was entirely silent, as to volume of traffic, passenger and cargo, and tho natura of the services, which are important in a discussion of a matter of such character, and some days later in the usual spirit of generosity tho Union Company duly announced that the Wahine would replace the Mararoa from the ls£.August and incidentally fares would be increased 2s 6d from that date." Mr. Young wishes to know if Mr. B. Van Staveren is the holder of ordinary or preference shares in the Union Company or in the Peninsular and Ori- | ental Company? Mr. Young sets out in tabular form what he considers are the costs of running the two turbine ferry steamers. He contends that to far from 2s 6d being added to the passenger money, tho profits would allow of "5s reduction on the old rates of fdreß. The correspondent criticises Southern members of Parliament who urged the Prime Minister to use his influence to have the Mararoa replaced in the Lyttelton run, but made no protest against the raising of the fares, " being evidently agreeable that the Union Company should have tho unquestionable right to charge whatever it thinks proper*." He excludes Labour members from his criticism. Mr. Young also refers to the condition of the Mararoa, a matter fully discussed at a recent deputation to the Government and fully reported at that time. As Mr. Van Staveren's name was mentioned by the correspondent, that portion of the letter referring to him was submitted- for any comments he was prepared to make. Mr. Van Staveren said : "I am* certainly 'interested' in the Union Company, as I am a frequent traveller on tho ferry run; but I do not hold any shares in that company, nor in the P. and 0. Company. I wrote suggesting th© extra charge with no other motive than the wish for the Wahine to take the place of the Mararoa. I am sorry, however, that the company increased the fares of the second class by 2s 6d, as it might affect some- people travelling in that class; whereas those who travel first class can afford to pay a trifle more."