Tasman Ferries For South Studied

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 14

Tasman Ferries For South Studied

The president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr A. S. Farrar) said last evening that the Harbour Board was concerned at Lyttelton not being used for the trans-Tasman roll-on, roll-off ferries.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the association’s council, he said there were facilities at Lyttelton that could be used. The board intended to ask the Union Steam Ship Company how much tonnage was required before the transTasman ferries came south, said Mr Farrar. The director of the association (Mr R. T. Alston) said he thought that this was a prudent approach. Asking what were the minimum requirements would be wise at this stage. The association will cooperate in ascertaining how much freight would possibly be available through Lyttelton for such a trans-Tasman service. This research would embrace goods at present exported from Lyttelton; the amount sent by air-cargo; the amount trans-shipped through Wellington and Auckland; and the amount sent through Ti maru.

Post Office Congestion.—The council appointed Mr Farrar and the senior, vice-president, Mr J. D. Bull, as its representatives for the meeting called by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce on August 20 to discuss the urgency of the new Christchurch Chief Post Office. Mr E. J. Smith said that checks he had made in the last fortnight had showed Post Office congestion between noon and 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. and 2 p.m Mr Farrar said a similar situation applied between 8 a.m and 9 a.m. Defence Tour.—An Imperial Defence College party of 18 will be received by the association for a luncheon on

September 12. The group will comprise 15 students, two directing staff and a New Zealand escorting officer. It will arrive from Australia on September 11. The Canterbury tour will include a farm visit and a ride in jet boats.