MELBOURNE-SOUTH ISLAND RUN

Evening Star, Issue 21719, 14 May 1934, Page 8

MELBOURNE-SOUTH ISLAND RUN

MAHENO AN UNSUITABLE BOAT STRONG REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER MATTER TO BE CARRIED FURTHER Stressing the point that if the Union Company could not find a more up-to-date vessel than the Maheno, it would be better not to have a MelbourneSouth Island service reinstated later in tlvc year, a deputation waited on the Postmaster-General (Hon. Adam Hamilton) at the Grand Hotel this morning. Three other points raised were that the fares to be charged in the service were thought to be too high, the service was commencing a month too late, and Tasmania was to be left out of the boat’s itinerary. After listening to the representations of the speakers, Mr Hamilton gave the deputation the assurance that he would talk the matter over with the Prime Minister and the Union Company with a view to seeing what could be done. Consisting of the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox), Messrs R. Duncan, W. H. Brent, R. S. Black, A. A. Paape, and Crs H. C. Campbell and J. J. Marlow, the deputation represented the following bodies: —Dunecjin City Council, Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Otago Harbour Board, Otago Expansion League, Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association', Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, Otago Motor Club, Licensed Victuallers’ Association, South Island Fruit and Produce Brokers’ _ Association, Drapers and Boot Retailers’ Association, and Australian League. In placing before Mr Hamilton the subject of the deputation, which was the reinstatement of the MelbourneSouth Island shipping service, the mayor thanked him for the opportunity given to meet him. The speaker explained that the bodies concerned in the deputation were acting in conjunction with others in the South Island. Without labouring the difficulties in which the South Island was placed, be would enumerate the points that had given rise to the deputation. Firstly, such a vessel as the Maheno would npt attract the public. The reduction in fares to be given amounted to practically nothing. _ The bodies represented in the deputation were endeavouring to establish a permanent service, but the Maheno was an old-time boat, and it was felt that people would not travel on her. There was a desire that the trade between Australia and the South Island should be increased. Secondly, it was desired that the service should start a month earlier than the arranged time-table. Two South Island bands were contemplating going to Australia for the contest early in October, but the service would not start until after this contest. In connection with the Melbourne celebrations, many of the big sporting events would be over by the time the service commenced. Perhaps the biggest attraction would be the arrival of Prince Henry, but the boat would not permit of the people being there by then. Thirdly, the fares arranged by the Union Company were too high. The company had stated that the Maheno would supply a proper service, and keep to a time-table, and that the fares were too low already.;

GOVERNMENT GRANT UNWARRANTED.

“ If the Government gives a grant by way of a subsidy to the Maheno it will be unwarranted,” stated His Worship “ The fourth point is the exclusion of Tasmania from the service.” He suggested that the New Zealand Government should get in touch with the Australian Government in this matter.

Mr Brent, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, said he fully and emphatically endorsed all the previous speaker had said. The mercantile community received the chamber’s support in its representations for a better service. The importance of the service from the point of view of the business people could be seen when he said that at certain times of the year agricultural products could more readily be exchanged by the two countries concerned. At present the position was that the trade restrictions prevented this soniewhat. In reply to a question, he said it was a natural assumption that a better boat than the Maheno could be obtained for the service. “ The Maheno is absolutely unsuitable, and it would be wrong for the Government to subsidise such a boat,” declared Mr Campbell. The vessel, he said, wass less than half the size of some of the ships the company ran. Most people going to from here would prefer to catch the Wanganella; There were three other steamship companies in Australia which were' not in the combine. It would be a golden opportunity for them to start a service. The Maheno had been laid up at Port Chalmers for some years and was stripped to the bone. The people would not travel on her. TO KILL THE SERVICE. Other members of the deputation supported the remarks made, and Mr Black added that it would seem that the Union Company was trying to kill the service altogether. .. Upon asking how old the Maheno was, Mr Haniilton received the answer that in 1914 she was used as a hospital ship. Tlie Marania and Maunganm were about the same age as the Maheno, but they had been kept up to date. NO SERVICE BETTER THAN MAHENO. Mr Hamilton said he was pleased to have the opportunity to talk this matter over. He had thought that when it was announced the service was to be established the troubles were over. Not being a shipping man he did not know that the Maheno was This boat they claimed would be apt to haltkill the trade beforehand. What if the Union Company could not get a better bosit? ho <isked« , Mr Paape: " Well, then,.it would be better not to have a seivice. Other members of the deputation agreed with this statement. , , The Minister then refened to the other three points brought up, and said he would be quit© pleased to talk oyer the matter with the Prime Minister and the Union Company. He would do his best to see if they could meet the wishes of the deputation. He algo snoke of the Milford proposal, and added that he did not know of anything better than the establishment of a service between Melbourne _and the South Island. The Union Company was a big concern, and the Government could not interfere too much, but it could make a request. I am very much surprised to hear you say 3011 would sooner not have a sen-ice,, than put on the Maheno,” ho said.