THE BLUFF-MELBOURNE SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22269, 23 May 1934, Page 11

THE BLUFF-MELBOURNE SERVICE

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Doubtless, with many others, I read with interest the account given in your issue of Triday last of the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board when the matter of the Blulf-Melbouine service was discussed. There certainly was some plain speaking, especially by Mr Sharpe at the expense of the chairman (Mr H. U. Campbell). In this connection it must not be for-r gotten that Mr Sharpe is the direct representative of the ship owners on the board, and was doubtless speaking as he had been instructed, and the chairman, although the criticism was largely against himself, certainly gave every, opportunity for the expression of it, even although it was not in order at the time. With regard to the strictures on the chairman’s action, I think I am right- in saying that the first meeting at which the references complained of were made was convened by the Chamber of Commerce, which iuvited delegates from several other similar bodies interested in the welfare of Otago to be present, and Mr Campbell attended as the representative of the Importers and (Shippers’ Association and also as chairman of the Harbour Board. There followed the deputation to the Postmaster-general, when another representative gathering took place. In face of both these expressions of opinion regarding the proposed service, it seems to me not a little presumptuous on the part of Mr Sharpe and other members of the board to take the general community as represented at these meetings of protest so severely to task and to ridicule the objects put forward. One member of the board, Mr R. Duncan, was not, however, overawed by the rest, and pointed out that it was not merely a question of the Union Company spending £4OOO, as stated by Mr A. Campbell, or £IO,OOO, as stated by Mr Sharpe —truly a somewhat wide margin—to recondition the Maheno, but whether, after she is reconditioned, she will prove a vessel likely to have a reasonable chance of establishing the connection with Australia oii a permanent basis. The references at the meeting seemed to suggest that it was a very serious matter to criticise in any way the action of the Union Company in anythin" it may do, but that rather we should take what we can get and be thankful, and this for fear ; of reprisals in the shape of withdrawal of support for the local harbour. This may be the case, but I hardly think that a community such as ours that has played so large a part in the growth and development of New Zealand will be prepared to accept such a position as final. Certainly we shall get no improvement in any direction, unless the facts are put fully and fearlessly before the public and the powers that be, and in so far as Mr H. C. Campbell and others have endeavoured to do this I think they are to be commended rather than otherwise. I do not desire unduly to occupy your space, but there is one point that strikes me as significant, and that is the admission at the board meeting that the Maheno would consume no fewer than 1000 tons of coal on the round trip. Now, I fancy I am right in thinking that this admission alone proves that this steamer cannot be made a profitable proposition, especially when the present high cost of bunker coal i s realised, for, compared with her size and even her speed, said to be 15 knots, such a consumption marks her as an exceptionally expensive boat to run. Naturally we should all like to feel that there was even this amount of extra work provided for our miners and those of Australia, but what we here in the south are looking and hoping for is a permanent re-establishment of the service, and if that consummation is to be realised, then it must be on a payable basis, only to be attained on the strictest economical working, and I think that such a coal, bill alone foredooms the present suggestion to failure. Then again, as to the cost of reconditioning the vessel, while it is very desirable that this money should be available for the workers at Port Chalmers, still there is such a thing as buying advantages too dearly, and naturally the Union Comyan will, at the end of the centenary season, take the total cost of initiating and running the service into consideration when finally deciding if the service is to continue or otherwise; and I fear it may be found that the last state is worse than the first, and the final knell of the service be rung, and direct communication between the South Island and Australia fall further back into the limbo of forgotten things. Mr A. Campbell stated that the vessel could be reconditioned in a fortnight. If this is really the case, which I beg much to doubt, why is she not making an earlier start, for even in your issue this morning, Sir, comes word from those interested in Melbourne that the date at present proposed is a month too late.

Trusting that even yet some more satisfactory arrangement may be made, and that when it is made this southern community may afford it all possible support, — I am, etc.. Citizen. Dunedin. May 21.