SHIPPING SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23951, 28 October 1939, Page 9

SHIPPING SERVICES

POSITION OF SOUTH ISLAND “ALWAYS THE SUFFERER ” (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH. Oct. 27. "I feel that we are far too complacent in the matter of shipping services for the South Island,” said the retiring president, Mr A. H. Allen (Mayor of Dunedin) when speaking at the annual meeting of the South Islands Travel Association. Mr Allen was commenting on the suspension of the South Tasman service mentioned in the annual report. The report stated: "The association was again active in urging improvements in the South Tasman service connecting the South Island with Australia, and with the possibility of Milford Sound being developed as a tourist port. Owing, however, to the outbreak of war, the South Tasman service has been suspended, but it is hoped that when peace returns this question will be taken up again. Action was taken in connection with the tourist cruise ships, and it was arranged that the Orient liner should visit Marlborough Sounds this Christmas, but the outbreak of war caused this to be cancelled. After the war tourist cruise ships for the South Island appear to be assured.” Mr Allen said that the South Island had been unfortunate recently in its shipping services with the outside world. It was impossible. of_ course, to expect the Union Steam Ship Company to carry on an unprofitable service, but a continuance of contact with the South Island by the shipping services ought to be looked on as a matter of national economy, and from the point of view of the entire Dominion. The association had tentatively agreed to a curtailment of the service. That might be proper, but why should it always be that when any curtailment of a New Zealand service became necessary the South Island had to suffer.