ARAMOANA “VICTIMS"

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 16

ARAMOANA “VICTIMS"

Coasters For Withdrawal (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON Nov. 20. Two more coasters—the Tuhoe and the Toa in the Wellington to Kaiapoi trade —have fallen victims to the Aramoena's activities and are to be withdrawn from service, says the shipping reporter of the “Evening Post.” A third coaster, the Wa-nganui-owned River City, is up for sale. A spokesman for the owners of the two Kaiapoi ships, the Kaiapoi Shipping Company, said today: “Coastal, shipping has had it—we cannot compete with the bottomless pocket of the Exchequer. “When the Union Company start their drive-on service between Wellington and Lyttelton, rates with the Aramoana will be c mpetitive, and other small ships will go by the wayside." In the meantime, the company would be ceasing operations as a shipping concern, he said. The Tuhoe, which had been put on the Wellington to Napier and Gisborne run, has now been chartered to a group of Wellington fishermen. The Toa, which was the first vessel bought by the new company in 1961 returned to Kaiapoi last night, and will stay there in the meantime.

“Busier Than Ever”

“We’re busier than ever,” said a spokesman for the Inter-Island Shipping Company, which operates three coastal vessels through Kaiapoi. when he was asked yesterday how the Aramoana’s activities affected his company. “In the meantime all the Wellington cargo is coming our way,” he; said. “The Aramoana has not affected us to any great extent.” Inter-Island’s three coasters are the Paroto. the Ranginui, and the Waiotahi.