THE FERRY SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 11

THE FERRY SERVICE.

The objections which members of Chambers of Commerce and others have expressed, and which a deputation of southern members of Parliament to the Minister of Marine yesterday endorsed, to the use of the steamer Mararoa in the ferry service between the two islands admit of an exceedingly simple explanation. Built in 1885, before an era of almost revolutionary advance in marine architecture had begun, the Mararoa is, judged by modem standards, out of date. Travellers > who have become accustomed to crossing Cook Strait < in the Maori and Wahine, with the knowledge that, unless severe weather is encountered, they may time their arrival at, their destination almost to a minute, do not talre kindly to the substitution of an old and slower steamer for one of the turbine vessels in the winter months. That it is a common practice with them_ no to arrange their movements that they may avoid the necessity of* travelling by the Mararoa and secure their passages by whichever of the other vessels is in commission at the time is ttell recognised. Other things being equal, passengers will always travel by the superior vessel that is available. Beyond the fact that the Mararoa is 40 years old and single-screwed, there is no complaint respecting her <that does siot seem to have been fully met by the report which the' Chief Inspector of Machinery has furnished to the Minister of Marine. The steamer has been unfortunate of late in the fact that she ting made two long voyages, ascribable in part on one occasion and wholly on the other occasion to mishaps in the engineroom. The accidents were of a kind which, we are assured, are liable to occur on every vessel, but it may be suspected that they will have the effect of increasing the prejudice against the vessel which seems to exist. It is unquestionable, of course, that it would be desirable from the point of view of travellers if the Mararoa were replaced by a twin-screw steamer in the important service in which she is employed, and it will be seen that the Minister of Marine has undertaken to make representations to the Union Steam Ship Company to effect this change if it cannot see its way to bring the Wahine back into the running for the balance of the winter months. Another expedient occurs to us as one that might perhaps be adopted advantageously—that of utilising the Maheno, a turbine steamer, which is at present out of commission. It was suggested yesterday that, if the Union Company replies to the Minister that the winter traffic does not warrant the regular employment of two turbine steamers in the ferry, service, the alternative is the establishment of a State service. The conception of a State ferry service run in conjunction with the. State and as an integral part of a State transport service from Auckland to Southland, is not without certain features that recommend it, but vie are somewhat apprehensive that, whatever may be said about the principle of the establishment of such a service, it would in practice prove less satisfactory than the advocates of it imagine it would.