COASTAL TRADE LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14853, 2 December 1911, Page 4

COASTAL TRADE LAWS.

Sir,—l am glad to see that the harassiM ■ ■f ! laws winch are imposed upon' owners 3 ■ t' k '" i I small vessels arc being put before the pub '' I lie, as it concerns them equally as much m y the owners, especially the settlers round the ; \* coast. With less restrictions *■ the trade 1 would increase more rapidly and-freights bo " * reduced accordingly, which would mean 'I \ opening up the land, whereas at present ' ' ' there are so many unnecessary expensed " si -'-11 imposed upon the mosquito fleet that it is '* i driving them out of existence, such as sin- { ; veyors' fees, and carrying gear which goes ' i mouldy for want of use. It appears to me '• -m a great mistake- that the Minister for - Rail. < 1 I ways should be Minister for Marine, which i gives him the power to handicap other V means of transit in favour of his railways ■ 5* which run short-handed, one man having' to' II issue the tickets, collect them, and act at 1 ! guard as well, besides carrying passengers, in , 1 coal trucks, which. _of course, cannot be >'" avoided, as the Minister for Railway! must ■ Vcut the garment according to the cloth. & •' I! seems somewhat strange that a small "boat II for trading purposes, carrying two or three 1 hands, and in some cases one, should with II a cargo of sand, timber, or a few pigs, fa "|| put to such unreasonable expense under 1 : '% the pretence of being concerned for 'their ' I safety, when a private yacht with a freight' § of human lives is unworthy of their notice. > ' 1 ScowowKM. \-.