THE STEAMSHIP FARE TO AUCKLAND.

Northern Advocate, 27 August 1902, Page 2

THE STEAMSHIP FARE TO AUCKLAND.

(To the Editor). Sir, — The announcement which apprared in your issue last night that the Northern S.S. Company purpose raising tho return fare to and from Auckland from 20s to 22s 6d comes as a groat surprise, and I venture to say will cause widespread dissatisfaction. When the N<vthern S.B. Company was in hot water some time ago and was threatened with opposition, I supported the Company against the then hostile feeling, believing that if the Company was given the opportunity matters would be adjusted to the satisfaction of all parties ; but I must say now that I regret having taken the action I did on that occasion. It appears to me that this raising of the fare is most ill-advised. Many people were looking for a reduction instead of a 12 £ per cent, rise, and considering the number of people that travel" by the Wellington — about 1000 a month — there was more reason to expect a reduction than a rise in the fare. Tho Wellington carries on an average 12,000 passengers annually, and the rise of 2s 6d means roughly a tax upon the travelling public of a further £1,500 per year. Are we to understand that the extra cost of coal, supplies, and legislative enactments calls for such an increase — that the whole services of the Company require a sudden increased rate of 12A per cent. — or is it to cover losses sustained by boats stranding and exceptional expenditure incurred by the incessant patching up of obsolele 1 its ?If the latter reason is the cause oi the rise, is it fair that the trade of this district should be burdened with the losses which the Company could have provided against by insurance ? Is it not adding insult to injury, that after the people have for so long a time put up with -the wretched ac cominodation of the Wellington, they should noAv be condemned to pay a still higher rate for the infliction of having to travel by a boat which is a full generation behind the times. Just when we are looking for progress — looking for a great influx of people with the coming summer, the Northern Company raises this barrier which will prevent people coming this way. The half-a-crown rise m.y not appear much, but it is distinctly a retrograde movement and it will be resented because it is imposed by a Company holding a monopoly of the trade. If it costs 22s 6d to carry people to and from Auckland and Whangarei, how is it the Settlers' Steamship Company can carry passengers to and from Auckland and Warkworth — one-half the distance — for less than a quarter of that sum? I regret very much that the Northern Steamship Company should have been so ill-advised as to raise the fares, for it will stop people from travelling and the Company will not gain by it and the district must lose. — I am, etc., G. E. Alderton. SB. — It has always been my opinion if a sufficiently commodious boat was put on t<> this trade with fares at 10s or 12s. 6d return, the traffic would treble or quadruple in a very ehort time. And seeing that this is the cheapest coal pot t in the colony, we ought to have the lowest fares. But this piopos.il to raise the fares, is monstrous and must court opposition. GK E. A