The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27, 1907. SOME OF GISBORNE’S NEEDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2048, 27 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27, 1907. SOME OF GISBORNE’S NEEDS.

iTlie corespondent who writes to us this morning on the question of treatment accorded to passengers and their friends travelling to and fro-m Gisborne must have had a particularly unfortunate experience. This is the first occasion upon which we have heard accusations of incivility on the part of steamshii> officials, and we feel satisfied it is an isolated instance. However, “Citizen” does well to draw attention to thp disabilities Gisborne residents suffer from generally in regard to stpamer traffic. It- is certainly bad enough that our communication with the outer world is limited to twice a week without that restricted service being surrounded by all sorts of harassing inconveniences that would not ue tolerated in any other place. AVe have no doubt the local manager could give •a full and apparently satisfactory explanation in regard to the complaints lodged by our correspondent, but it is not so much explanations that are wanted as alterations. It is quite time the citizens of this town set ui) a determined agitation for more frequent steamer service than we have at present. It is sheer nonsense to suggest that tho business importance of Gisborne will net warrant anything better than a two-weekly service, and some very strong representations should be made to the shipping companies on this matter. Then there is tile kindred question of mails, in regard to which no have a distinct grievance. One would think that the Postal- Department, recognising- the disabilities Gisborne folks suffer under in being only able communicate with Auckland and AA’dlington twice -a week, would strain every point to make this provide tlie best conveniences possible under the circumstances, but the reverse is the case. Lejtci& arriving from Auckland by Sunday’s boat are left mi■sor.ted till the following morning, instead of being placed in. the boxes or made available by counter delivery as early as possible. Then a very large percentage of the outward Southern correspondence has to bear a surphis charge becauso of the late fee regulations. Tlie reason for tho existence of such regulations, we take it, is to prevent the public generally from leaving the postage of its mails to the lavif possible moment, and thus the necessity of affixing an extra stamp when a letter is posited, say, a quarter of an.hour before the mail ae tu,ally leaves the post office, has a tendency to avoid the difficulty referred to. It is, however, manifestly unreason-uLNe to expect a person to pay a late fee because he is net prepared to post his letter nearly 21 hours before the mail actually leaves the town. He should bo able to post it in the ordinary letter-box any time before 4 o’clock on a- Sunday afternoon. This would, of course, involve Sunday work f,or .someone, but, as with tho Telegraph Department, the responsibility must* rent with the Postal Department to make such arrangements as are necessary for the public convenience. Another matter in which townspeople arc at present subject to a •good deal of annoyance is the telephone service, which appears to have become even more troublesome since the multiple system came into operation. From the uni VQisal nature of the comxilainls that are made on this .score one can only assume that in some way or other wo are not getting the same attention that is bestowed upon subscribers in other pnris of tho Dominion. The hours during which the telephone is available for use, also, are so limited as to seriously impair its utility to subscribers, and a recent agitation

for a continuous servico received scant consideration from the Department. These are but a low of many subjects that might with advantage bo taken up by ‘tho citizens of Gisborne. Of course, il they are satisfied to put up with unjust and .iinniecossary inconveniences, it is certain they will wait a considerable .period for any improvement, but if, on the other hand, they are prepared to demand the attention which .the business importance of the place warrants, they should be able to secure better uteamer arrangements and increased facilities in regard lo the postal and telephone services. Here is ample scope for tho formation of a citizens’ committee, which should take up and advocate such reforms as arc indicated.