Govt silence on plan for Picton sailings

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 1

Govt silence on plan for Picton sailings

(Sy

MURRAY SIMPSON)

Whatever happened Ito the scheme to send the Rangatira to Picton on her “off days”? The scheme was an integral part of the Union Steam Ship Company’s recovery package for the Rangatira, but the Government has so far remained . silent on why the scheme was rejected. Informed sources said yesterday that, though the Mini-

Ister of Transport (Mr Mc-| (Lachlan) might be right ini I saying that increased freight; rates could not be expected; Ito recover the full operating! I losses incurred by the Rangajtira, he had failed to justify; 'the rejection of the Picton scheme — a scheme seen as| bringing enormous savings. High costs The sources added that the sl.2m additional costs which Mr McLachlan claimed the; Rangatira would have to bear this year, seemed “unduly high.”

General wage orders and; increases in Waterfront; Industry Commission levies! will account for most of the; increases. But the Rangatira’s; relative position in coastal; shipping will remain much the; same. The option to run the' Rangatira to Picton remains; open, and seems the most; logical means of best using! New Zealand’s shipping. Reclamation The Marlborough Harbour Board’s chief executive (Mr A. W. Crawley) said y esterday that a separate linkspan for the Rangatira could! be built within six months of; obtaining loan approval The whole scheme_ would cost no more than $500,000. and would involve minor reclamation work at Waitohi Wharf, costing 5260.000. and the erection of towers for rhe link-span, costing $240,000. , The board would use a (span originally used on the; No. I ferry wharf, but now! I in storage. i Mr Crawley said that the llxiard accepted the statement' that extra freight traffic (could be generated by the; ■introduction of the Rangatira. i However, it was not yet I obvious where it would come | from. The board felt that it' ;would not benefit economic-! ally from its investment, but 'it was prepared to co-operate for the good of the country.

■ | What makes the Picton proiliect so attractive to many Jobservers is that the need to I (replace the Aramoana within ;lthe next two years, as she ■ | nears the end of her econ■lomic life, would be obviated, i The Aramoana’s replace- ; I ment cost is believed to be I about s22m. The Rangatira could cater I for up to 3900 passengers a .week, which, according to J Union Steam Ship Company b projections, would net her .’another $2.2m a year. >! Extended life

If the Rangatira took over (the Aramoana’s peak-loading 'sailings, the 10 a.m. sailing from Wellington, and the 2 l p.m. from Picton. the 4 Aramoana’s economic life Icould be extended indefinitely. (This would in no way interfere with the Rangatira’s regular Wellington-Lyttelton failings. ’ At the same time the proposed sBm refit to the Aratika to equip her with passenger accommodation would also be unnecessary. Railway iiirome j Through the Rangatira’s ■ special trailer-cargo facilities, transport costs between Wellington and Nelson could be cut significantly. At present most Wellington-Nelson freight must be transferred ; from rail to road transport at , Spring Creek. Using the Rangatira. freight for Nelson could be ■lloaded directly on to road I trailers at Wellington. A number of major road- ■ transport firms in Marl- : | borough and Nelson are : | believed to be interested in :|the scheme. The Picton scheme would tlneed complete support from : the Government. But at present a strong Railways ti Department lobby seems •I entirely opposed to any II incursions into what at times s has been a lucrative area of .'railway operations.