NEW “INVASION”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 13, 6 April 1927, Page 9

NEW “INVASION”

TAKAPUNA FERRY SERVICE DEVONPORT STEAMERS VEXATIOUS AND UNNECESSARY The Devonport Ferry Co.’s intention to seek permission from the Auckland Harbour Board to run ferry steamers to Bayswater, will be challenged. The Takapuna Ferry and Tramways Company will oppose the application. It is suggested that the latest development in the North Shore traffic struggle is in direct opposition to the spirit and letter of the recent judgment of the Transport Appeal Board. TO CARRY PEAK LOADS In a statement issued to-day by the chairman of the Takapuna Ferry and Tramways Company, Mr. St. Clair Brown, he said; “While the Transport Appeal Board is limited in jurisdiction to land transport, it nevertheless took the view that the ferry and the tramway, and the bus service, were inseparably united.

“The basis of the board’s decision that the solution of the problem lay in a co-ordinated bus and tram service, was that the ferry service connecting with Bayswater w'ould be thereby fed and would enable the costly peak loads night and morning to be handled by the tram. If, therefore, executive opposition were to be developed on the water the whole finding of the board would be stultified and the problem thrown into confusion once more. “It would be unfortunate if, after complete agreement between the owners of the two public utilities, the tram and ferry company and Mr. Smith, the intervention of Mr. Smith’s mortgagee in a desire to have a share in the ferry revenue, should render abortive the finding of so competent and impartial a tribunal as that recently presided over by Mr. Justice Frazer, and which gave a unanimous finding on the subject.” TWENTY MINUTES’ SERVICE “Inasmuch as the Takapuna Ferry and Tramways Company’s time-table is half-hourly during the day and three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, is in 20-minutes’ intervals, the invasion of any other steamers apart from any possible danger of collision in the narrow channel, would be purely vexatious and unnecessary. The whole question of fares, says Mr. Brown, will be settled by a conference in which the company, the Takapuna Borough Council and Mr. Smith will take part. The fares cannot be settled until the conference does take place, and any statement to the contrary must be regarded as “inspired.”