WEST COAST SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14019, 26 March 1909, Page 4

WEST COAST SERVICE.

REDUCED PASSENGER RATES* : FREIGHT CHARGES INCREASED/ . -.V: Since the opening of the Main Trunk rail. . way the passenger traffic on the west coast :'-'.- to New Plymouth and Vvellington ha* .. .? fallen off considerably. No doubt the ; novelty of the through trip attracts a certain number of passengers by the railway • I route, but the difference in the tariff- is.- - probably the most important item, considered by the travelling public. This matter has been carefully considered by the Union and Northern S.S. Companies, who have now decided to make a reduction '"'■'■ in the passenger rates scheduled for vessels trading out of the Manukau. They have also come to the conclusion that the passenger traffic diverted from the steamer to the railway cannot be regarded as due to the novelty of the new route. Not only is the passenger traffic much less, but the west coast steamers have lost the carriage fof Southern mails. Both' companies have for some time been urged to reduce the fares between Onehunga and New Plymouth, it being pointed I out to them that the rates for this journey v are a great deal higher than have been ruling between Wellington and Lyftelton. In deference to the continued agitation - \ however, it has been decided to try the effect of charging the same salons rate* as obtain between Wellington .and Lyttelton "': namely. 20s single and 35s return, and also to reduce the steerage rates to 15s single and 22s 6d return. Onehunga-Wellington, and vice versa: Saloon, single 40e, return 75s ; • steerage, single 30s, return 52s 6d. - / These rates are to come into operation on April 1. Although both companies have reduced the passenger rates, they have raised the charges for freight from 10s to 12s hi per ton. The Union Company intend to maintain the present service until April 2, when / only two trips will be made. The Eotoiti on arrival at Wellington, on March 31, >, wili withdraw for annual overhaul, and her place will be taken by the Takapuna. f; After her overhaul, the Rotoiti will lake .7 up the Takapuna's running. This' arrangement will be continued during the '-, winter months. . The service from Wei lington to Onehunga will be .maintained by the Takapuna, which will leave Wellington on Wodntsdays, and the Corinna '•■'.■; • "i on every alternate Thursday. The Koonya will proceed from Wellington to New Plymouth fortnightly. ) ""*';, The Northern Company will keep their present time-table until April 1, when a f :"' probable alteration will be made in the running. . It is anticipated that the passenger traffic by the steamers will be fairly large, during the winter, owing to the probable cold weather being against- pleasurable train travelling on the Main Trunk line. ■ ' '" * "*■ 'jt