STEAMER SERVICES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12503, 2 April 1909, Page 3

STEAMER SERVICES.

-■-'■■ ■, — ♦ . ■ [United Phess Association. J : , Auckland, March 31. Interviewed as to the intention of the Union Steamship Company regarding the West Coast service, Sir James Mills, Managing Director \of the Company, "said that, as was expected, the Main Trunk Railway had diverted a considerable portion of the pasenger " traffic which • previously, found its way from New* Plymouth to Onehunga. The company haddecided to lyithdraw one. of its steariiers hitherto employed, and to continue running the^other one twice a week between Onehunga and . New Plymouth and once a week betweeTi Qnehunga I and Wellington. This arrangement would be kept. up through the winter, and*it' was hoped that the trade would permit- of- the daily service being resumed next summer. ; ' - ■ The. passenger rates had been reduced in to a considerable amount of pressure from the travelling .public,, who had frequently pointt ed out that .the Onehunga-New Plymouth fares' 'jsvere somewhat higher than those : between Wellington and" Lyttelton, a longer distance. . . - Owing to the grbwing passenger trade .from New Zealand and Australia, to Fiji, the Union Steamship Company, recognising that the hotel accommodation at Suva is quite- insufficient to meet requirements;' f has decided to put up a' first^class'hdtelthere at a cost of £15,000 to £20,000. Arrangements had been ..made with the Fiji Government' for- a site and a lease had been granted to the company on favourable terms.' The company recognised that .the .step they were taking was necessary in the interests of tourists and the travelling trade. • ;■ -■-; V;;; 'j* i [This message" ought to have rea. Ed us in time for yesterday's issue.]