DEVONPORT FERRY CO.

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 996, 12 June 1930, Page 12

DEVONPORT FERRY CO.

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED RAINS AFFECT RETURNS The annual meeting of the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, Limited, was held this afternoon, the Hon. E. M . Alison, chairman of directors, presiding-. “The weather during the summer months, said the chairman, particularly during the holiday season, was most unpropitious. From December 19. to February 19. there were twenty-five wet days; the whole of the public holidays with the exception of January 2 being abnormally wet ancl unpleasant. Consequently, the returns for the holiday season fell considerably short of the usual receipts for that period. You can readily realise that the success of the company is in a great measure dependent upon the traffic to the many attractive beaches and beauty spots on the northern side of the harbour, extending from Devonport to Brown’s Bay and beyond, and also to the various islands and picnic grounds which attract excursionists and others during fine summer weather. “The business of The North Shore Transport Company was similarly affected by the adverse weather conditions to which I have referred, and consequently the directors of that company consider it inadvisable to declare any dividend for the past year. However, the year’s working has enabled an allowance of 12?$ per cent upon the whole of the company’s ; buses and plant to be made, as compared with an allowance of 11 per cent, the previous year. The operations of | the company have been extended during the year by the acquisition of the buses and assets of the Brown’s Bay and Narrow Neck bus undertakings. THE HARBOUR BRIDGE “In my address last, year, I referred to the suggested bridge across the Waitemata. Harbour, and concluded i my remarks with reference to the same j by saying: j “The erection of a bridge across | the Waitemata, as proposed by the | Bridge Association, is as premature ! and unnecessary as when The Auck- ; land Canals and Inland Waterways Commission reported in 1921 after exhaustive inquiry and evidence as to whether a bridge should be constructed across Waitemata Harbour to connect the City of Auckland with the northern district. The finding of the commission was: ‘We are of : opinion that, with the present popu--1 lation. the expenditure that would be necessary, is not justified.’ ” said the chairman. “The opinion I then expressed has been confirmed by the finding of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Commission. “The report of the Commissioners from every standpoint, is sound, practical, and well considered, as was anticipated coming from such a highlyqualified body of experts, and it met with general approval. It is satisfactory to learn that even the Bridge Association expressed itself entirely in accord with the Commission’s findings. “With regard to future developments of the company's services, I can assure you that the directors and the management are ever watchful of the needs of the company’s patrons, and endeavour, as far as possible, to fully— I might say, more than fully—provide the cheapest, the most efficient, and the most convenient passenger and vehicular services which the traffic justified and They are enabled to supply, and I feel confident that the Auckland Harbour Board will at all times co-operate by providing further facilities as necessity arises/’ coni eluded Mr. Alison.