BIRKENHEAD FERRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23405, 22 July 1939, Page 17

BIRKENHEAD FERRY

Sir, —It is time something should be done to improve the Northcote-Birken-head ferry services. There are many shortcomings, which, taken singly, may seem trivial, but altogether cause annoyanco to a large number of people. The lighting of some of the cabins is inadequate for comfortable reading, as they are frequently left in semi-dark-ness, no attempt being made to light up except at set times. The crowding nt the gangways at rush houx-s should bo mentioned, no regulation of two-way traffic being attempted, as is done on the Devonport run. And as about half the people clamber on or off the steamers one wonders why the regulation against this practice is retained. The crowding could well bo alleviated by revision of the time-table, as it seems preposterous to run a 20-minuto service at a quiet time and have 35 minutes between boats at the busiest hour. Tho time taken on the journeys is also unreasonably long —it was better many years ago. A just causo of complaint is that the boat with the biggest load of tho day frequently waits in tho stream while an .empty one strolls to the Northcoto wharf. Tho journey nowadavs usually takes 25 minutes between Rirkenhcad and tho city, and one afternoon recently took 35 minutes. This for a run of about two miles!

A matter of even greater importance is that of accommodation. The Ferry Company will not admit there is overcrowding, no doubt basing its view on its licence to carry a thousand and more on each vessel. It is safe to say that not one-fifth of such number can bo effectively protected k from the weather on an ordinarily bad day, and it is this—and not some theoretical tonnage measurement —that should nowadays govern-the permissible number to be carried. Ferryman.