Shipping Company Attacked By M.P.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32306, 26 May 1970, Page 8

Shipping Company Attacked By M.P.

It was time that the Holm j Shipping Company, Ltd, honoured its undertaking on Chatham Islands shipping services and it was time the Government Insisted that it did so, said the member of Parliament for Lyttelton (Mr T. M. McGuigan) in a statement “The Chatham Islanders have every right to expect! regular and adequate services | and they are not getting! them,” he said. “I am tired of the manner in which the! needs and rights of these l people are constantly beingignored and intend travelling: to the Chatham Islands during the next few weeks for urgent discussions with thepeople with a view to taking steps to endeavour to correct i the chaotic transport situa-! tion which exists.” Mr McGuigan said he was still awaiting the letter claimed to have been written to him “early last week.” by the managing director of the Holm Shipping Company, Ltd (Captain J. F. Holm). The only letter he had received from Captain Holm was a copy of one sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) dated May 20. “Captain Holm’s press statement is a string of red herrings aimed to divert the blame for the present supply

crisis from the shoulders of I his company where it should fairly lie,” said Mr McGuigan. I- “Far from the islanders not I carrying out their side of the bargain, as stated by Captain Holm, it is his firm which is failing to fulfil its obligations. “Captain Holm talks of ‘pulling a ship out of a hat at a moment’s notice.’ Perhaps he should be reminded that for years the service to the Chatham Islands has been I subsidised by the Government !and more recently his comipany, in agreement with the ! Government, capitalised on | the subsidy to the extent of tens of thousands of dollars jin order to convert and equip! the Holmdale for Chatham ! Islands service. “Perhaps Captain Hohn may tell the public the exact ’figure and admit that at the same time he agreed to run a regular service to the ! Chathams,” he said.