AID FROM STATE TO BE SOUGHT?

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 6

AID FROM STATE TO BE SOUGHT?

YEARLY SERVICE TO MELBOURNE BLUFF HARBOUR BOARD’S ACTION A remit urging that a deputation approach the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) asking that the Government grant a subsidy to permit the Bluff-Melbourne steamer service to be continued throughout the year, is to be submitted by the Bluff Harbour Board to the annual conference on Friday of local bodies with Southland members of Parliament. This decision was reached at a meeting of the board last evening when a letter was received from the director of the South Islands Travel Association (Mr J. J. W. Pollard) asking what additional steps the board was going to take to secure a continuous service.

The chairman (Mr W. A. Ott) said that Mr Pollard in a private letter had suggested that a deputation should approach the Prime Minister on the matter and ask for a Government subsidy for a service throughout the year. Mr Ott suggested that the matter should be brought up at the annual conference of local bodies with the Southland Progress League 'and members of Parliament. He emphasized the importance of this service not only to Southland but to Wellington also. Mr Ott moved that it be a remit to the Progress League conference that a deputation, comprising Chamber of Commerce delegates and representatives of the South Islands Travel Association, approach the Government on the question. The Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., asked whether the various harbour boards affected would be prepared to assist with the subsidy. It was only right, he said, if they were going to ask the Government for a subsidy for a private company that the boards, who would benefit greatly from the service, should indicate their willingness to make some monetary grant towards the subsidy, if a subsidy was granted. Mr W. J. A. McGregor: How would it do to ask the harbour boards to waive the harbour dues for these tourist ships? Mr Ott said legislative authority would have to be obtained before the boards could make a donation or waive harbour dues. The suggestions were good ones, however, and they could be brought up at the' conference. The motion was carried.