Line Says Ships Raced; Other Line Denies It

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 15

Line Says Ships Raced; Other Line Denies It

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 2. The Northern Steam Ship Company was not aware of any race between its ship, the Moanui and Holm and Company’s Holmdale when the two vessels left Lyttelton for Onehunga last week-end. the general traffic manager for the Northern company, Mr S. L. Caspar!, said in Auckland today, Mr Caspar) was referring to a report that the Holmdale arrived at the Manuksu bar about an hour ahead of the Moanui after a race for the first right to a berth and labour at the Onehunga wharf.

Mr Caspari said: “We are not using our ships to race up and down the coast. On this passage the ship ran at a reduced speed, as all our ships do. The reduced speed is imposed by the company to obtain an economical pas-

sage.” Captain J. F. Holm, man-aging-director of Holm and Company, said today he was sure the Moanui w’as doing her utmost to catch the Holmdale.

"There is rivalry between the two ships and no-one can convince me that they weren’t racing," he said. “If we could , keep ahead of the Moanui we would do so. "Our aim was to get the first working berth at One-

Oceaa Rsee. Twenty-five yachts have entered the ocean race from Whangare* to Nou iea on April 18 next year—(PA.)

hunga and give service to our customers in the time saved in waiting for a berth.” The Holmdale got a berth at Onehunga on Tuesday night and the Moanui on Wednesday morning.