TRAIN FERRY SCHEME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19820, 23 December 1938, Page 8

TRAIN FERRY SCHEME

COOK STRAIT CROSSING SMITH ISLAND SUGGESTION A train ferry service across Cook Strait to synchronise with flic completi n of the South Island main trunk line, so that grain and other produce could easily be sent to farmers in the North Island for feed purposes, was urged by the Southland executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The executive will communicate with the Dominion executive on the question cf providing a rail connection between the islands.

The president, Mr. A. R. Johnston, said lie was sure the recommendation would gain strong support from the Dominion executive, which had been seeking a solution of the problems for some time.

The recommendation was brought forward by the union’s grain and seeds committee, on behalf of which Mr. J. 11. Gordon said that such a ferry could make four trips daily The value cf oats for feed was being •■■risrd. 'Phe grain could be sent from Southland to Hamilton with only one handling. Southland could grow -il] the oats necessary in the North Island.

Mr. Gordon addon that the ferry would afford easy transport for stud, fat and store stock, and would d f " away with prohibitive wharfage and other transport costs, including wharf- .,,,<> charges on wheat. Coal from the West Coast could be landed f'hcnplv in Wellington. Stud stock from the north could come south.