SOUTH ISLAND NEEDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 68

SOUTH ISLAND NEEDS.

TOURIST AND STEAMER SERVICES. DEPUTATION TO MR F J. ROLLESTON. While on his way to Roxburgh on Thursday Mr F. J. Rolleston (Minister o f Defence and Minister of Justice) received a deputation from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce in the Ministerial car on the special train. The deputation consisted of Messrs James Taylor (president), E. A. Rosevear, G. Crow, H. C. Campbell, A. H., . Allan, and H. P. West. The first matter discussed was the new Post Office.. The deputation asked that the work of erection should be expedited without delay, as the present postal facilities in the city were very unsatisfactory. The Minister was also asked if he would place before the Government tho urgent need for some move in the direction of a reinstatement of the MelbourneBluff steamer service, preferably on tho basis of the regular pre-war time-table. The whole question of South Island communication with Australia, it was said required looking into. The South Island’s handicap in respect of tourist traffic was also brought under Mr Rolleston’s notice, it being claimed that it was due in no small measure to the present irregular steamer services to this island. It was also pointed out that Lake Te Anau wa 3 in urgent need of a new vessel, the present boat beinc very much out of date.

The last request concerned a proposal that night express trains should be instituted between Christchurch and Dunedin It was explained that business people felt very keenly the handicap entailed by having to do two days’ travelling for one dav’ s business in Christlt wa s felt that a night train should be run at least twice a week. The Minister listened sympathetically to the deputation, and promised to putthe matters in nues’ion before Cabinet on his return to Wellington.