“ANYTHING WILL DO?”

Evening Star, Issue 20375, 6 January 1930, Page 10

“ANYTHING WILL DO?”

SOUTH ISLAND STEAMER SERVICE COMPLAINTS SINCE MANUKA WRECK As gauged by tho Otago Expansion League, public opinion is that if the Wcllington-Sydney steamer, and not tho Blulf-Melbourne ship Manuka, had been wrecked, another vessel would have been speedily procured to take up the running; but anything will do for the South Island. ' Since tho wreck of the Manuka the league has been agitating for the resumption of the full service on the run, and its hand has now been strengthened by the’ repealing of the law which prohibited overseas boast from carrying passengers and cargo between Hobart and Melbourne. The opening s of the Hobart run again gives the Union Company, the league contends, a chance of making the service payable. Acknowledging a letter from the i league, Mr H. J. Manson, New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Melbourne, noted that the league was still anxious to have tho disabilities that exist, so far as tho steamer connection between the mainland and New Zealand, is concerned, removed. Ho was at one with tho league in regard that. The league could be assured of bis best efforts to bring about an improvement iu the service. ,

Mr Manson wrote that the league would be glad to know, however, that the new Federal Government had just suspended section 286 of the Navigation Act, granting , permission to carry passengers between Hobart, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne to overseas shipping lines. , In a letter to the Prime Minister on December 19 the league wrote expressing regret that the unfortunate maritime accident should have disorganised the steamer service between Australia and the South Island, which, thanks to Sir Joseph’s initiative, had been started recently.

“ Under the unfortunate circumstances there may possibly bo a delay in restoring the service, and my league is anxious, in the interests of the growing traffic, that an inferior vessel in size and accommodation is not placed on this route. Knowing your personal desire to see this service brought back to its previous standard, my league feels assured that you will make the best possible arrangements _ for the carrying out of the contract in the interests of the community,” Five days later Mr Steel advised Sir Joseph that the public statement by him regarding the South Island-Austra-lia steamer service had greatly disappointed the public of Otago. “ From your remarks they gather that they are to go back for another year to the wholly inadequate service against which wo have been agitating for years past, and ‘ hope deferred m'aketh the heart sick.’ The popular comment is that if the Wcllington-Sydney steamer had unfortunately gone ashore, another vessel would speedily lie procured to take up the running, but anything will do for tho South Island. In view of the subsidy paid by the Government—an act which increased your mana visibly —we still hope that you will exert pressure to secure, at the least, a ten-day direct service. The tourist business alone will soon bo sufficient to justify tho effort, and ‘ facilities make tirade.’ We aro unfeignedly grateful for your past services to tho South Island, and we sincerely regret tho accident which has wrecked your plans and our hopes, and we still trust you to secure us 4 our heart’s desire.’ ”