Government to keep Rangatira on run pending new ships

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33527, 7 May 1974, Page 1

Government to keep Rangatira on run pending new ships

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 6.

The Government will charter the ferry Rangatira for six months, and probably longer, while further efforts are made to find two smaller ships to replace her.

Losses of about slm every three months on the LytteltonWellington run will be borne by the Government during the charter.

Details have yet to be approved, but it is probable that the ship’s owner, the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd, will continue to run her.

The Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) said tonight that the charter would initially be for six months from July 1, but under the agreement between the Government and the Union Company the charter could be extended. The Government must simply give the company three months notice of any decision not to extend the charter, or to end it. Possible economies Sir Basil Arthur said that the slm loss on the ship each quarter might be reduced by measures which would have to be negotiated with unions. One possibility was the closing of the big restaurant. The Government would run the ship merely as a holding measure, after the decision of the Union Company to withdraw her because of heavy losses. New ships must be found

to provide a passenger and freight service between Lyttelton and Wellington, and preferably a daily (or nightly) service, with sailings in both direction each day, said Sir Basil Arthur. The Rangatira had clearly been too big and elaborate to provide this economically. Replacement type A group of officials from the Shipping Corporation, the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Treasury, and the Railways was investigating the type of ships needed to replace the Rangatira. the Minister said. He personally had in mind the type of ship used in Scandinavian waters, between Britain and Ireland, and between Sydney and Hobart. The vessel might have a limited number of cabins and more aircraft-type seats. The

ship might be similar to the Cook Strait rail ferries, Aramoana and Aranui, though faster.

Sir Basil Arthur said it was not known what vessels were available for charter, purchase, or building. He thought it very unlikely that the Rangatira would be modified permanently.

The Shipping Corporation would be happy for the Union Company to run the ship during the charter, and this would probably be agreed to, said Sir Basil Arthur.