PASSAGES TO NORTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24150, 8 January 1944, Page 6

PASSAGES TO NORTH ISLAND

NEED FOR RESERVATIONS EMPHASISED The difficulty being experienced by some North Island visitors in obtaining return berths to Wellington by the steamer express service is not as acute as it has been at some other holiday periods, Mr H. H. Dobie, manager of the Union Steam Ship Company told “The Press” yesterday when the report from Dunedin that essential workers and others would not be able to report at the time directed by manpower authorities was referred to him Up to 70 vacancies by cancellation were often available at the booking office, Mr Dobie said, and where essential business or cases of emergency were proved every effort would be made to grant preferential bookings. The responsibility was not that of the shipping company, said Mr Dobie, as all passengers should take the precaution to ensure that return bookings were available as required. Those complaining had travelled south on the chance of obtaining a return berth, although reservations were advertised as full up to January 22. They must now keep iu touch with the shipping

office to obtain reservations for can celled passages.

A similar position occurred in every holiday period, but In war time the shortage of berths was aggravated by the fact that transport of services personnel on duty must have priority, Mr Dobie said.. There was always the alternative passage over the Cook Strait from Picton, but except on Fridays this entailed an extra night In the South Island.

Inquiries at the Government Tourist Bureau at Christchurch showed that exceptionally heavy business has been done during the summer holidays. The relaxation of travelling restrictions has induced many persons who had not travelled last year to undertake tours in the last month, and it is also probable that the wider acceptance of the practice of closing shops and offices for two or three weeks and granting the whole staff a simultaneous holiday had increased the demand for travel and accommodation reservations. All the popular resorts had been fully patronised. Queenstown and the Marlborough Sounds had had a particularly heavy stream of holiday visitors.