The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1908 OUR PASSENGER SERVICE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2152, 30 March 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1908 OUR PASSENGER SERVICE

In futuro those whose business'qonipcls them to .mako frequent trips from Au'cldantl to Gisborne .will be inclined to time their visit, whenever possible, so that they may have as' a fellow-passenger somo Minister of Dio Crown, and, for preference, the Premier himself. For months past the steamer service has been exceedingly irregular, thus involving extreme inconvenience and a good deal of-dis-comfort to the travelling public. The boat from the North has often been late, and on several occasions itrh.as made such a belated arrival that passou,gers have been landed on , flic wharf in the vicinity of midnight. When remonstrances are, made, wo. are reminded that Gisborno is a very small place, that it is only a very tiny- linkprn a “thundering big” chain, and there are so many external influences at work, that really it is a wonder wo get a boat at ’ all. There is the Island fruit to ho brought to Wellington and Dunedin: there are interests of large Auckland business firms, whoso cargo must bo get aboard; there are the arrangements of theatrical ..companies, who want to get an extra night in Auckland, and out the G.ieborneites short, which, have to be studied; and, in fact, there are a hundred and ono things that have to be considered before the local townsman, who' is waiting to meet a friend from Auckland or who 'wishes to take steamier for Napier, can iget'a hearing. But it is not, always thus —tho steamer is occasionally up to time. .Last week the word went round- that the Premier was to come South by the Mopo-' wai, and having cut Gisborne from his vote-ip respecting Jour, would need to arrive ‘'on .time” in order to pay his respects to tho place in daylight before massing on. As a result, tho Auckland officials took no chances in tho matter, but got the Monowai away so promptly on Saturday that only exceptional circumstances could have prevented her arrival in Gisborne harbor early in tho afternoon. As a matter of fact, the weather conditions were 'favorable, -and the steamer, making a good run, her passengers 'Were landed just after midday. Now, we make no obieotion to this trouble being gono to in order that the Premier should he able to spend a few hours -ashore under reasonable circumstances, but we do claim that equal consideration should be given to tho travelling public which uses this port. What can -be done in the way of careful arrangement to suit the convenience,of the.geiiitleman who holds tho highest public position in the land should be possible when the convenience of several hundred passengers’and friends are in question, and the incident provides an admirable text for the 'general improvement of our passenger service. The Union Company displayed quite a genius for ’tactful management in tho present instance. Every detail was attended to, -with the result that Sir Joseph was able to spend tho whole of the afternoon in town, meet his friends, take a drive into the country, forward his political campaign by several interviews, finally being' despatched by special launch at 7 o’clock to board a- steamer which, in tho ordinary course of events, will land him at Napier in ample time to catoli the through express for Wellington. This is, of course, an admirable arrangement for 'Sir Joseph, and it doss not appear unreasonable to suggest that the time-tab,lo which ivas possible for the Premier of the Dominion should be .also possible for -the general body of passengers who travel up and down the- East Coast.