Take-over of Cooks vessel

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

Take-over of Cooks vessel

(Neto Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 6. The Cabinet today approved proposals for a Government take-over of the Islands trading ship Lorena. She is expected to resume trading between New Zealand and the Cook Islands as soon as the legal take-over of the owning company can be completed.

It is intended that the Department of Maori and Islands Affairs will take over the shares of the Cook Islands Shipping Company, and that the New Zealand Shipping Corporation will run the ship on its behalf. Details of the arrangement were announced today by four Ministers who have been involved in negotiations for the Lorena. The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Watt) said that the Cabinet had approved the proposals to honour its commitment to the Cook Islands that an adequate shipping service would be maintained. Purchasing the shares of the company seemed the best way to do this. The move could be described as help for the islands. The Lorena might not prove finally suitable for the Cook Islands run, but she would do until a better ship was found. SHIPS SOUGHT The Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) said that Government officials overseas were making progress in the search for ships to replace the Lorena and the Moana Roa on the Cook Islands service. Negotiations for the ship

to replace the Moana Roa should be completed soon, and it was important to have this ship in New Zealand by August, when the Moana Roa would be required by the Ministry of Defence. It would take longer to replace the Lorena, said Sir Basil Arthur. BACKLOG OF CARGO The Minister of Island Affairs (Mr Amos) said that the Lorena could be used to clear a backlog of cargo at Auckland. Reservations had been expressed about the suitability of the ship, but she was available for the run, and was the only vessel available which could berth at Avatui Harbour.