Overseas fares up by 30 p.c.

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33455, 9 February 1974, Page 14

Overseas fares up by 30 p.c.

Shipping companies in Christchurch confirmed yesterday that passenger fares had risen by up to 30 per cent because of higher oil prices.

The higher fares vary according to distance. Across the Tasman, the increase is 121 per cent; on Pacific cruises, 10 per cent; and to Asia and Europe, 30 per cent. The passenger sales manager of Shaw Savill, Ltd (Mr R. B. Harvest), said that some intending passengers had cancelled or altered their bookings when told of the increase in fares. Mr Harvest said he sympathised with people who suddenly found that they would be unable to make a trip they had planned. On the other hand, unless the increases were imposed, the ships could not sail at all. His own company had

found that instead of paying $750,000 for oil for a specific: period, it now had to payj s3m. Commenting on a complaint “The Press” had re-! ceived about a $7O increase! on the sea-air fare to London, Mr Harvest said that $55) would go to the shipping[ company and $l5 to the air-1 line concerned. The complainant had paid $494 to travel to Singapore by sea and to fly on to London. “The rises in oil prices) have hit everyone,” Mr Har-) vest said. “There is nothing) that can be done about it,) other than to take shorter) trips or cancel altogether.” | The increase in shipping) fares had been agreed upon) in London, and were the! same for all shipping lines.) Most people booked to travel) abroad had accepted the in-| creases, realising that it represented another rise in the cost of living. SUBJECT IO ALTERATION The companies, said Mr Harvest, were entitled to increase the fares even though: money had been paid. Tickets) were issued subject to alteration as required by the companies. Among those immediately affected by the increase are •passengers booked to sail in the Northern Star, sailing from Auckland to Sydney I then on to Singapore on Febjruary 27.