DIRECT BOAT TO WESTPORT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVII, Issue 12850, 24 June 1902, Page 6

DIRECT BOAT TO WESTPORT.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, —Having read through " Commercial's " letter in your V issue of June.: 7, i miist admit that I quite concur with' his remarks. I am, a. West, 'Coast trader* and have experienced the : loss and annoyance to which he refers in his letter. Travellers representing? firms throughout the colony call with their samples, and although perhaps the prices quoted by Wellington firms are not so good as 'those quoted) by Ohristchurch and Auckland firms, I am compelled to give almost the whole of my trade to Wellington houses. This is caused through the Union iCompany not taking cargo direct from the ports of Auckland and Lyttelton for.-,West Coast ports. In almost every instance goods are shipped from these two ports as far as Wellington, where they are transhipped to a' Coast boat, the consequence being that the freight is much heavier, and a very considerable delay is the result of the transhipping. The Wellington firmis therefore scoop almost tiie whole of the Coast trade: 'I understand that you have a Chamber of Commerce here, and as a West Coast dealer I would suggest their taking steps to so arrange this matter -with the Union Company as to enable us to deal more -with ChTistehuroh firms, which under the ipresent existing arrangements we are unable to do without doing so ait a considerable loss and delay, which we ase not disposed to do. " Commercial " also draws attention to the fact that when a 'direct boat does leave for the Coast it is advertised- for a day and then withdrawn, and the greatest uncertainty exists in .the Coast shipping. With "CerameroM" I hope that a direct service will bo established between Lyttelton and the Coast, with boats running at .short intervals, so that we can .place our business profitably with Christchurch houses.—l am, etc., WEST COAST DEALER.