“Lack Of Facilities” Prevents Call At Lyttelton By New Liner

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27444, 2 September 1954, Page 12

“Lack Of Facilities” Prevents Call At Lyttelton By New Liner

Because of the lack of facilities for the disembarkation and embarkation of passengers, Lyttelton could not be recommended as a port of call during the round-the-world voyage of the Southern Cross. Wellington would be the only port visited by the ship in New Zealand, said Mr Ein Fraser, the South Island manager of the Shaw Savill and Albion Company, owners of the newly-launched Southern Cross, in reply to a letter from the Lyttelton Harbour Board. The letter was received at yesterday’s meeting of the board.

“He is right,” said Mr F. W. Freeman. The 20,000-ton ship would be carrying morp than 1000 passengers and Gladstone pier at Lyttelton would be a very awkward and bleak place to land them.

“This is yet another illustration of the need for road access to our wharves,” said Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon. Mr George Manning disagreed and said that facilities at other ports in the world were not much better than those already at Lyttelton. “At Southampton, one of the world’s main ports, passengers carry their stuff ashore and wait for anything up to an hour and a half while their bags are cleared before they catch a train for Waterloo. I would like to know what difficulties

Shaw Savill find at Lyttelton,” said Mr Manning. “All these ports are not railway ports,” said Mr Freeman. A port had to be equipped with a long shed with plenty of room where passengers’ bags could be examined by Customs officers. “Travellers are most impetuous people and unless you have proper facilities they will complain. Until we can build an adequate transit shed we will not have these liners calling.” Mr R. T. McMillan said he could not understand board members saying that a tourist ship could not be brought to Lyttelton. A millionaires’ ship came into Lyttelton recently, and most of the people came up to Christchurch. He asked why the No. 2 wharf could not be used. The board should do everything to assist, instead of making difficulties. “As far as this ship is concerned, she will only be spending a day in' New Zealand and there would be no trouble over baggage,” said the chairman (Mr F. E. Sutton). “The facilities we have are sufficient.” “I am not objecting to the ship not coming here,” said Mr Manning. “I ?™ter^ eCting t 0 the * st*" 8 in t* lB *

I think the shipping company does not want to make Lyttelton its port of call,” said Mr C. W. Tyler.