STATE FERRY SERVICE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 267, 12 November 1909, Page 5

STATE FERRY SERVICE.

ITS ? EFFECT ON THE SOUTH

TRUNK RAILWAY

PROTESTS TO BE MADE

■'. Interviewed* this morning with regard to the Minister for Finance's proposals in the Financial. Statement to imprpve the ferry service between Lyttelton and Wellington, the Presii dent of the' Marlborough Land and • Railway League, Mr R. McCallum, said that the League was strenuously opposed to the proposals, and the members would do their utmost to prevent anything of the kind. The ferry service run by the Union Company between those ports was adequate for the requirements, and what was really wanted was an improved service between Picton and Titahi Bay or Wellington. - The Christehurch people had nothing to coinplain of as to their ferry service, which was as good as it was possible to get. Why ; he asked, did not.the Government inaugurate a ferry service between New Plymouth and Auckland long before the North Island Main Trunk line was completed, if such a thing was necessary ? If the proposals' of the Minister for Finance Avere carried it would simply mean that the construction of the Main South Island , Trunk Railway would not be pushed on in the manner desired by those who had the interest of the future1 development of the country at heart. There was a great deal of land suitable for settlement on both sides of the route laid out for the line," and there were a large number of people waiting to take it tip under favourable conditions, which meant as_ soon as there was a reasonable possibility of their being able to handle their produce without much difficulty. . That could be brought about only. by strenuousljr pushing on the construction of the line, which was the most important piece of railway construction that the Railway Department had in hand at the present time. A meeting of the League would be held during the early, part of next -week', when the matter would be thoroughly gone into, and a resolution framed and sent on to • Pariiameiit through the Member for the district.

Mr J. R. Sharp, President of the Chamber of Gammerce>fin jteply •to a question regarding, the same matter, saidl that, a meeting of the Council would be held to-night,' when a resolution would be passed,, asking Mr Duncan.to urge upon the Government the' advisableness of pushing on railway construction from Flaxbourne towards the IJre district. . ,

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Referring to the paragraph in your lasi night's issue under the above heading, I have no doubt that all Marlborough residents have rea \ with a very, considerable, amount -of dissatisfaction the contents of the Financial Statement as quoted by you. The proposition as it stands nieans much to thiß. district, and' ■should theiarrangements in course.of negotiation become finally; decided on; it will mean that Marlborough will receive, a: considerable setback. and that the completion of the Southern Main Trunk will be delayed indefinitely. Now, Sir, I consider that this proposition shows a want of regard for th# electors of ;this district, and it :is. their duty a& electors to endeavour to prevent the adoption of a ferry service by the Government between Wellington and Lyttelton. The recognised connection between the two islands is undoubtedly Wellington and Pictpn, and thence southwards by the to-be-completed Main Trunk. If the other connection is adopted by StatePowned vessels, it will mean .that MarlboroUgh will be left out in the cold, and' that the now >much overdue. railway junction between• Picton* and Christchurch will never be completed. The electors of the district should rise up as one man, with common interests, party politics being put aside. Let' us have a fully representative indignation meeting, and forward a resolution to the Government protesting against the outrageous proposition. , ■'■':■ . MARLBOROUGH.