TRANSPORT TO CHATHAMS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 12

TRANSPORT TO CHATHAMS

—♦ STEAMER TEES MAY BE SOLD PASSENGERS' PLIGHT TEMPORARY ISOLATION OF ISLANDS It is likely that the steamer Tees which maintains the only service between the mainland and the Chatham Islands, will be sold to an Australian firm. If the transaction takes place the islands will be isolated. A full complement of passengers and cargo already booked up will be left will'i no transport to the islands and Government action may be necessary The Tees was to have sailed for the islands last night, but a representative of an Australian firm which is known to be a prospective buyer was in Lyttelton yesterday and conferred with the representatives of the owners the Westland Shipping Company. Negotiations reached a stage at which the Australian representative was in conversation by telephone with his principals in Sydney, and the departure of the Tecs was further postponed until to-night, and she may be dry-docked to-day for further inspection. . , , , In the meantime, considerable anxiety is being felt by a large number of passengers awaiting transport to the islands, and it is known that several passengers are also waiting for a passage from the islands to the mainland. The Tees also has a considerable amount of stores and other cargo aboard for the islands, and it is thought that if a sale is made this may be unloaded and the trip abandoned. In the ordinary course, the Tecs would have from two to three months steady work ahead of her, as many thousands of sheep, ns well as wool and fish, are awaiting shipment from the islands. Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P.. as member for. Lyttelton and the Chatham Islands, has been approached by several persons whose interests may be seriously affected. He said last evening that the Government had already been approached by Chatham Islands people, who wanted a better service, particularly for the carriage of stock. He was watching the position closely, but until he had definite information he could take no action. In former instances of emergency, the Government had dispatched the steamer Matai to the islands.