STEWART ISLAND SERVICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 15

STEWART ISLAND SERVICE.

GOVERNMENT STEAMER WANTED. UTkou bun Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 15. The Right 'Hon. Sir J. G. Ward to-day in the House asked the Government whether, in view of the increasing passenger, goods, and fish traffic to and from Stewart Island, the Government would offer a suitable steamer to be put on daily between the island and the mainland.

Mr Massey replied that the Secretary of Industries and Commerce stated that as far as the department was aware the existing service was sufficient for requirements and that no representations had been received by the department at any time regarding the insufficiency of the present service. However, further inquiries would be made. Sir J. G. Ward said that several thousands of persons had passed to and from the mainland, and the present service was quite inadequate. There was much land that could be settled there. Unfortunately development had not been sufficient during the last few years to warrant private enterprise in starting a service, but Stewart Island was capable of settling hundreds of people. The Hon. Mr Rhodes explained that the Postal Department already paid a subsidy of £3OO a year to the steamer for the carriage of mails to Halfmoon Bay, and £65 a year for a service farther on. That was as much as the department was warranted in paying. He did not know whether the Tourist Department would be justified in paying something, but would look into the matter.