MR. NAPIER AND THE TOURIST TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11714, 25 July 1901, Page 3

MR. NAPIER AND THE TOURIST TRAFFIC.

- TO ; THE .EDITOR. __ _ , Sir, —I see in a report ot Mr. -Napier s, speech of .'the 3rd inst., that he refers to the s.s. Mararoa as an " old tub.' This gentleman has evidently a keen sense of his own importance, when he,does not consider one of the fin oat steamers in Australasia good enough to carry him. I make bold to say, sir, that the steamers of the Union Company's lino will hold their own for convenience 1 and comfort with any in the world. As to the Mararoa being an old tub, there is not a faster or finer steamer of her size in Australasia to-day, although - she is about 17 years old. When Mr. Napier talks of the Government running 10,000 ton boats between Sydney and i Auckland he is simply talking nonsense, as suoh boats would not pay for their oil. Of course 1 know that is a secondary, consideration to Mr. Napier, as he would have the Now Zealand taxpayer to make up the deficiency. Judging from Mr. Napier's local efforts at politic®, I am afraid he is inclined to be more liberal with the public purse than with his own. His> many schemes while in the Harbour Board have invariably proved failures. He incurred considerable expense In making a cargo landing at the ferry tee which has since been altered to its original level. _He carried the idea of a powder hulk against the better judgment of some of the older members. This cost the \ Board over £1500, and has proved an absolute failure, and as an asset is not worth £200. Then there was his partition down the centre of Queen-street Wharf, costing a considerable sum, which lias since been' removed. Still one more glaring instance was sending the secretary Home on business, that he did not understand; instead of sanding a competent engineer. The importance of this subject is my excuse for troubling you on this matter, and to show Mr. Napier that if he docs go to the trouble of having his speeches published, we are not all takon in with his claptrap. —I am, etc., \ Ornet 'Anded. Auckland, July 20, 1801.