Waiau Ferry Service.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 428, 22 July 1913, Page 5

Waiau Ferry Service.

DISCUSSED BY COUNTS! COUNCIL.

At Friday's meeting of tha Wallace County Council, Cr Tapper moved to rescind the motion passed a month before that the punt service across the Waiau be confined to ten hours a day. He said members were unaware of the amount of traffic, and that twelve hours would be short enough. Previously the punt was used for 'sixteen hours, and if that liberal service was warranted m the past it would be more required now as the traffic had largely increased. They would consider that the dairying season would soon commence, and that there was a likelihood of more sawmills coming into exi^wnbe on the west side. It was also important that every facility should be given people who wished to join early trains, also those oh the other tide of the river who Ranted to do shopping at Tuatapere. ; Cr McGregor seconded the motion. He eaid the present hours did not suit the public, who should be studied. , They should revert "to the previous arrangement, more eapeically as the punt woidd be called on to do more work m the conveyance of timber few the bridge. Or Horrell supported the motioii, but Cr Dyer thought a "ten hours' service sufficient. In addition he was against passing a motion at one meeting and rescinding it at the next. Or Flynn spoke m favour of the motion.

Cr Buckingham said the mover had spoken of the enormous traffic, but had furnished no figures. In ten hours a great deal could be done. They had invited applications for a fenryman, who, was to be employed ten hours a day, and they should allow their decision of a month ago to be given a "trial. The chairman (Mr McNaughton) eaid that although a ferryman had been appointed, it could easily be arranged with him to work longer hours than had been fixed.

Or lonsoott stated "that it was on the ground of economy he had supported the change. The more the punt was used the greater the risk of accident. The Chairman said the reduced hours should be given a fair trial before any change was proposed. Or Tapper, m reply, suggested that the ferryman should take a note of the traffic and report. The motion was lost.