SOUTH ISLAND’S WANTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20974, 13 March 1930, Page 12

SOUTH ISLAND’S WANTS.

QUESTION OF STEAMER SERVICE DISCUSSED BY PROGRESS LEAGUE. (Per United Press Association. ) NELSON, March 12. The annual conference of the South Island Progress League was opened today after a civic welcome had been extended to the visitors. Strong representations are to be made to the Government to run the motor ship Maui Pomare to South Island ports as originally arranged. Mr P. Clibborn (Canterbury) moved—- “ That the present high cost of coastal transport, especially freights for South Island produce to northern ports, is a serious handicap to the proper development of trade between the two islands, and urges that the Department of Industries and Commerce should undertake an early inquiry into the matter with a view to ameliorating the existing conditions or the early completion of South Island Main Trunk railway and the institution of a ferry service between the two islands." Mr Errington, in seconding the motion, said he considered Otago was just as interested in the matter as Canterbury. The problem would in some way be helped by_ the completion of the Main Trunk railway. He thought the league should in some way compliment the Government on the work that was being done on the railways in the South Island. Both the North and the South Island Main Trunks were necessary, and he thought that the benefits from the completion of the South Island railways would soon be apparent and would have the effect of getting sea freights reduced as the result of competition between rail and boats. ’ The remit was adopted. A remit from Canterbury—“ That the interests of the South Island demand the immediate performance of a contract between the Government and the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., for the South Island, rendered necessary by the wreck of_ the Manuka,” was introduced by Mr Clibborn. Mr Clibborn mentioned the growing tourist traffic. He said tourists should be able to land in the South Island if they so desired. The successful tenderer for the service between the southern part of New Zealand and Australia should have known all the possibilities and the obligations of the contract. Mr Steel (Otago) said it was pleasing to find Canterbury with them in what he described as Otago’s “Hardy annual.” Mr W Hinchey (Southland) said that whenever a meeting was held in Southland by the Progress League and the Chamber of Commerce this question was discussed. Southland was of the opinion that the Union Company did not want the service. Whether that was the case or not the absence of the service was no good to Southland, as it had no direct outlet for its produce, and travellers to the south had to retrace their steps to Wellington before being able to get away to Australia. He remembered the time when practically all the tourists either came to or left New Zealand by a southern boat. It was in the Interests of the whole of the island to fight for the restoration of the service, and if the •Union Company could not do it they should get someone else who would. He had suggested that local bodies in the south as far up as Canterbury should provide themselves with a boat, but local bodies had not been inclined to tax themselves for the purpose. He considered the matter an urgent one. The tourist traffic to New Zealand was growing and he was of the opinion that it would build up until it nearly equalled the goods traffic. The present arrangements deprived the south of tourists. Mr Holland supported the remit. At present there was a number of ships laid up which could be put on the run. He could not remember the matter being discussed in Parliament. Mr W. J. Girling (Marlborough) mentioned the case of the Empire farmers’ party which was in Marlborough recently, and was going on to Otago. The visitors did not wish to return all the way to Auckland in order to go to Sydney, He was satisfied that if good passenger ships wore put on the southern run the people would either enter or leave New Zealand by the southern route. The remit was carried unanimously. The conference unanimously favoured the proposed Lewis Pass route between the_ East and West Coasts on the following grounds:—(l) It would provide direct connection between practically all the eastern areas and the north-western districts from Greymouth to Nelson by a route appreciably shorter, quicker, and easier than any other available route; (2) it would open new and promising areas for closer settlement in both the North Canterbury and Buffer basin, would make the valuable Marti Springs accessible and would provide a distinctive and beautiful scenic route, making the round trip possible to attract tourists and travellers; (3) it would open up several other passes and much country now inaccessible in North-west Canterbury and the Buffer basin for camping, tramping, shooting, fishing, and such recreational pursuits; (4) it would provide \ meaßS direct communication between the East and West Coasts which would promote social as well as commercial intercourse and lead to closer national integration; (5) it would provide a short and- convenient alternative route between east and west which would be invaluable, and indeed, essential, in any emergency which might cither dose the present routes or render them inadennate; (6) it would speedily become one of the national arterial highways and should be at least as important as, for instance, the present Christchurch-Blen-heira highway or the Nelson-West Coast highway; (7) its grades and alignment would be remarkably good, its construetion easy, and. in relation to its great advantages and the national gain to be expected, it would be remarkably cheap; (8) it is a main through route essential to the full development of the South Island resources.