LAKE WAKATIPU STEAMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21147, 3 October 1930, Page 8

LAKE WAKATIPU STEAMERS.

RAILWAY COMMISSION'S . report. .... REORGANISATION OF SERVICE. AN OFFICER AT QUEENSTOWN. , .(Special, to. Daily.Tmira.) . ‘. ■. WELLINGTON, October ,2. , the opinion that the Lake ■ Wakatipg ff steamer services , should be 'reorganised under an officer ■ at Queenstown is ox* pyessed in the report of the Railways Commission,v which -states- that the service has not been properly organised and scheduled it considers that savings could be effected by good management. The capital expenditure in tne accounts ?5A t „S larc l i ?T. I?3o,’sets out the sum of £44.387 as bemg the amount expended oa the assets of this l service. - ■ The report states: " The fleet consists of three ships—viz., the Earnslaw, which is stated to be. in ■ good condition, but not altogether suitable fob the service; 'the Ben Lomond, and the Mountaineer, both of wmch.are in poor condition and for which only temporary'licenses can be obtained trom. the Marine Department. ' shows that the- Sum °.f£26,123 should .be. written; off-to provide for accrued depreciation and dead assets still remaining in the capital account of this service.. It is estimated That the cost of refitting’the Ben Lomond and the. Mountaineer would amount to £4BOO, giving the vessels i farther 10 years’ life, ihe cost of repairs to the vessels for the ?-Sr- tbree ’1928, £2107; 1029. . £3850; 1930, £3523,- .The••'evidence submitted to yotir commission showed that the service was not properly organised and scheduled, and. that considerable savings could; be made under, more efficient man* agement,., * *v v. . !It would appear that theinost ealisfactory. method of. management would be to place the service under an-officer stationed at Queenstown and hbld' ’him responsible for this service; This officer should be ina position to .reduce the staff and, by economical methods of handling cargo, curtail many of the expenses with Which the service is now burdened* As the service is self-contained, provision should be made by a reduction of .and an inyear’s jvork--s Baa fqJly'considered the advisability b£ the purchase. of <a_ new Bteamer, costing approximately £26,000,' which ’ would replace the Ben .Lomphd and the Mountaineer. In dealing with this matter consideration has been given to the probability.of the road between Queenstown and Kingston, now under construction, being completed. 1£ this road is completed undoubtedly, a large amount -of'.traffic now being conveyed by the steamers will pass over the road; iand the irevenne’ of the lake' service Will be considerably reduced. Definite evidence - cannot be obtained, as to whether or not this road will be’ completed. ■ Then to little call by the settlers in the district for the chnstruoion of the road, and provided the work is not proceeded with your ■ commission feels justified in recommending the purchase'of a new steamer,”