STEWART ISLAND

Southland Times, Issue 19248, 11 June 1921, Page 5

STEWART ISLAND

THE PASSENGER SERVICE. At the meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board yesterday, a deputation from the Southland League enlisting support from the Board for improvement of the Stewart Island service was introduced by Mr J. R. Hamilton, M.P. Mr Fowler, the principal speaker, desired the Board to understand that they had not come with the intention of telling the board how to run its business, but as representatives of the people of Southland to see if the Board could assist them in finding a better method of conveying passengers to Stewart Island. He referred to the Government’s offer of £lO9O per annum subsidy which he understood would be available for at least three or four years in succession, and desired to know if the board would be prepared to provide a vessel suitable for passenger services and towing purposes also. Captain Harbord and Mr Wilson enlarged on Mr Fowler’s remarks as to the attractiveness of Stewart Island as a tourist resort and the desire of people near and far for a more comfortable passage across the straits. The chairman stated that if legislation authorising the Board to trade was passed and a suitable subsidy guaranteed for a period the board would give the question every consideration as it was the desire of all the members to assist in the matter. Mr Hamilton -said that there would be no difficulty in getting suitable legislation passed and he had every’ hope of getting a fairly large subsidy for a period of several years. The deputation thanked the board for its sympathetic hearing and retired.