SUBSIDY SOUGHT FOR SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 23544, 25 June 1938, Page 8

SUBSIDY SOUGHT FOR SERVICE

SOUTH ISLAND AND MELBOURNE RUN

SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION BY HARBOUR BOARDS The necessity of running the Mel-bourne-South Island passenger shipping service for the full year was urged at the conference of Southland local body representatives with members of Parliament yesterday. It was stated that a subsidy would be necessary and a proposal was made that harbour boards should contribute to the cost if the Government would validate such expenditure. The Bluff Harbour Board submitted the following remits:— “That the Southland Progress League arrange a deputation consisting of the Chambers of Commerce of Invercargill, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, the South Islands Travel Association and the Harbour Boards of Wellington, Lyttelton, Otago and Bluff, and. the members of Parliament of the various districts concerned, to wait on the Prime Minister with a view to obtaining ‘a substantial subsidy to enable an all-year shipping service from the South. Island to Melbourne to be maintained.’ ”

“That the Bluff, Otago, Lyttelton and Wellington Harbour Boards be communicated with to see if they would be willing (subject to necessary validating legislation) to contribute towards the subsidy which the Government is being asked to grant.” Mr W. A. Ott said the matter was not a parochial one, but concerned the whole of New Zealand. The Bluff Harbour Board had organized a private deputation to the general manager of the Union Steam Ship. Company. The deputation had learned that the service was run at a very substantial loss at present. There was, however, a big demand from all parts of the South Island and Wellington for the continuation and extension of the service. In the initial stages it would be necessary to subsidize a continuous service, but it was not suggested that the Government should be asked for all the money. Perhaps the harbour boards and other local bodies would be prepared to contribute to the cost if the Government would validate the contribution. ■ A subsidy of from £40,000 to £50,000 a year might be required at first. Mr C. B. Tapley said the matter was of national importance. The future of the tourist traffic in New Zealand lay in the provision of an inlet to the Dominion at one end of the country and an outlet at the other. If a permanent service was in operation tours could be arranged from all parts of the world. At present with an intermittent service in operation such tours were not arranged. The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) said the suggestion that harbour boards should contribute was an indication of good faith and an excellent suggestion. The Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., and Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., both promised whole-hearted support to the proposal.