STEAMER TRAFFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22293, 20 June 1934, Page 4

STEAMER TRAFFIC

LACK OF SOUTHERN SERVICE ,4 s \ EFFECT ON TRADE AND PROGRESS MANUFACTURERS POSTPONE ACTION The controversy, with respect to the suitability of the Mahcno for the South Island-Melbourne steamer service wag revived at a meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association yesterday afternoon when a letter was received from the Chamber of Commerce asking that the association should accord its support to a resolution protesting to the Government that the Maheno was an unsuitable vessel, and asking the Government not to subsidise a boat that was not suitable. Thu discussion ti»rued towards the necessity of a permanent southern steamer service between Australia and New Zealand, a member going so far as ro say that the continued absence of such a service would result in the strangulation of trade in the South Island, but the association de-cided-not to take the matter up with the Government In the meantime.

“All this association committed itself to do was to support the Chamber of Commerce in asking for a MelbourneBluff service,” said the chairman (Mr James Hogg), when the letter from the chamber was read, “and I foci that I ara expressing the opinion of the association in saying that we do not subscribe to many of the views expressed by those who wish* to dictate to the Union Company as to what sort of boat should be put on the service.— (“Hear, hear.”) The association, he added, bad asked for a service only jf the traffic warranted it, and had referred to the good facilities given by the Union Company for the carriage of cargo. The association would support at any time the opportunity to have money expended on the overhaul of a boat at Port Chalmers, because there was need of work of that kind. Ho could not support the resolution sent forward by tbe Chamber of Commerce. MR DUNCAN’S APPEAL Mr 11. Duncan, who was the representative of the association on the committee set up to endeavour to have the service resuscitated, said that he would be very sorry if the association weakened in its support of the service. Niue passenger vessels were leaving New Zealand every month, and all were going to Sydney. Nothing went from New Zealand to any other port in Australia. If members studied the distribution of the popular tion of the Dominion they would find that one-third lived north of a line drawn through Mount Egraont, one-third lived in the North Island below that line, and the remaining third of the population was in the South Island. As the position stood every person in the South Island who wanted to go to Australia had to go either from Wellington or Auckland, and thig put from 25 to 50 per cent, on to the cost of the voyage. “ 1 believe,” Mr Duncan continued, “that this has been permitted for far too long a time by the Government.” When it was realised that two-thirds of the population of Australia lived in or south of Sydney, he said, it would be seen that tbe business possibilities necessitated a diversion of traffic. So far as he could see the present conditions could lead to nothing else but a general strangulation of business in the South Island. He might not be prepared to support all that had been said at the meeting with the Minister of Employment (Mr A. Hamilton), but he was strongly in favour of having some of the traffic diverted to Melbourne. It was difficult to understand why Melbourne itself was not alive to tbe position. A diversion must come sooner' or later. It bad been said that the weather on the voyage between Auckland and Sydney was better than that experienced between Bluff and Melbourne, but be had the best of authority for saying that tbe weather on tbe southern trip was just as good as that enjoyed in the north. Mr J. G. Jeffery: It is better. Mr Duncan claimed that the inferiority complex was too much in evidence in the south. He hoped that the Manufacturers’ Association would be solidly behind tbe movement. ' The chairman: Do you mean that we should be behind the resolution of the Chamber of Commerce? Mr Duncan: I think the boat should be left out of it.

Members; That’s the point. Mr Duncan added that transport questions were not merely matters of business. “If the Union Company does not want the service itself and keeps others out you can see wbat the effect will be upon population,” be stated. He pointed out also that the Maheno would call at Dunedin on only one trip and after that passengers would have to go to Bluff. Tlie North Island would not stand for such a thing as that. The Gor’crament should be approached, and it was of no use to, make a patchwork job of the agitation as was being done at present. The goods and passenger services should be linked. DECISION REAFFIRMED Mr J. Sutherland Ross moved that the letter of the Chamber of Commerce be received. Everything could be lost, he said, by asking for too much. The Union Company consisted of business men just as the manufacturers were. The standard of luxury in travel bad grown enormously, but to ask for a better boat than the Maheno for a four-days’ trip was, he thought, over the odds. He did not in the least feel inclined to support the resolution.

Mr W. Kindley seconded the resolution. Me Jeffery suggested that the Union Company be asked to provide as soon as possible a speedy cargo vessel of moderate size with passenger accommodation. The motion, however, was carried, the association reaffirming its previous view that the cargo service was reasonably satisfactory but that a service for tourist traffic was necessary. The chairman moved that the association congratulate the Government on its decision to complete the road to Milford Sound. The completion of the road, he stated, would attract all the boats that were required. The motion was carried. Mr Duncan then moved that the Government be asked to reorganise the present shipping services between Australia and New Zealand so that there would be a service between Melbourne and the South Inland. No seconder was immediately forthcoming, and the chairman declared that the motion bad lapsed. Mr Jeffery, however, stated that he would second the motion and suggested that an addition should be made recommending ' that a moderately-sized cargo vessel with i accommodation for passengers should be placed on the service. The secretary (Mr G. W. Reid): That’s the Maheno.

Mr Boss appealed to the mover and seconder not to press the motion until the tariff question was settled. “ Let us see then how we stand,” he stated.

It was finally agreed that no action should be taken in the meantime.