TRANSPORT TO CHATHAMS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 12

TRANSPORT TO CHATHAMS

Islanders Press For Improvement DIFFICULTIES OF FARMERS Better shipping service could double production in the Chatham Islands, and an air service is the solution to the passenger transport problem. This is the opinion of Mr L. Harrington, chairman of the islands’ branch of Federated Farmers, who is visiting Christchurch. “Life down there is good,” said Mr Harrington. “Biit the potentialities have not been scratched.’ r Each year the islands export about 18,000 sheep, 400 head of cattle, and 2800 bales of wool; and 2500 tons of general cargo is carried to and from the Chathams. About 150 tons of fish is exported each year. At present the 25-year-old Port Waikato serves the islands* population of 500, although she has been supplemented recently by the Pacific trade vessel Matai and aircraft. Awaiting shipment at present 10,000 sheep and about 1000 head of cattle. The sheep are destined for Canterbury farms for the winter. They should arrive at the market before the end of March.

Freight costs are high; Mr Harrington believes they must be the highest in the world. Cattle cost £6 to £9 a head for the 500 mile trip; sheep cost 14s 9d a head; and general cargo £lO a ton.

Islanders felt they were being neglected by the said Mr Harrington. The Government could do more to improve transport services for the islands. At present, dozens of persons were stranded in the islands after going there in the Matai and believing they would have return transport. The last year had been the driest in the history of the islands, and the problem of getting stock to the mainland had been a special worry, Mr Harrington said.

Mr H. R. Lake, member of Parliatent for the Lyttelton electorate, ir

which the islands are included, and the Minister of Marine (Mr J. K. McAlpine) have been approached for assistance. Yesterday, at a meeting of the Canterbury provincial executive of Federated Farmers, the chairman (Mr D. W. Gray) said he would support the island farmers’ appeal. Mr Harrington and the Chatham Islands representative on the executive (W H. H. Deans) outlined the position to the meeting.

Last evening, Mr H. L. Herdman, an executive of Holm and Company, Ltd., which runs the shipping service to the Chathams, said the company had not been “sitting down on the job.” For a month, the company had tried to obtain a suitable ship to assist the Port Waikato. Last year, the Government had lent the Matai to assist with three trips to carry passengers and wool.

The Port Waikato, which was old but suitable for carrying stock, was at the Chathams, and would return with a full load of 1400 sheep, Mr Herdman said. She had been delayed for a week by bad weather. Seven more trips would be needed to carry the rest of the sheep in this vessel.