THE FERRY SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 5

THE FERRY SERVICES.

WHARFAGE CHARGES.

QUESTION OF INCREASE.

REPORT TO HARBOUR .BOARD.

The report of the special committee dealing with the wharfage of ferry shipping was presented to the Harbour Board yesterday afternoon. On April 7 ,the committee was directed to report upon the question of increasing the ferry charges.

In arriving at its conclusions, the committee roported that it had had the benefit of a good deal of information in regard to conditions obtaining elsewhere, particularly in Sydney. Approximately, Auckland's interests were one-sixth those of Sydney; this applied generally to the population, the ferry traffic, and the financial interests involved. It had been found necessary to consider the course of events in tho Auckland Harbour during the last 30 years, leading up to the present conditions. The ferry traffic had developed into a great and necossary public utility, involving a large financial outlay. The committco was satisfied that the position from the public standpoint had been, and was now, inequitable, and therefore considered that it could no longer continue. The question involved was purely one of 'shipping wharfage, and the committee was thoroughly satisfied that those concerned could well bear the reasonable charges which the recommendations, involved.

The committee was unanimous in recommending that the by-law and its amendments, covering charges for ferry wharves bo rescinded, and that a by-law bo enacted establishing the following scale of charges for all ferry boats. The Ferries or any wharf on tho .south slioro of tho harbour within a mile of Queen's Yvnarf, each call, Is; suburban wharves, each call, 9d; provided that two calls on any one trip at intermediate wharves shall count as one call. Vehicular stages: Hobson Wharf vehicular stage, each vessel, per day, 15s; other vehicular stages, each vessel, per day, 10s.

The report was referred to committee.