Rangatira staying on run until July 25

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34106, 19 March 1976, Page 1

Rangatira staying on run until July 25

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n CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

WELLINGTON, March 18. The Rangatira will stay on the WellingtonLyttelton run until at least July 25. Announcing this today, the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) said the charter was to have expired on May 23. and it had already been announced that it would be extended a few months to enable a replacement freight only vessel to be obtained. “I am still not in a position to say exactly when the new vessel will be available,” he said. ‘‘But the uncertainty over the few months beyond May 23 has caused some concern. especially for bookings for the May holidays.” The Rangatira might con-

-tinue in service beyond July, depending on negotiations for a replacement. Tickets could now be sold without endorseIment up to the return sailing to Wellington on July 25.

Mr McLachlan said that at present bookings after midMay were overstamped to indicate that the ticket was valid only if the service was still in effect. “The Government is well aware of the need for both the travelling public and commercial shippers to have as much certainty as possible about advance booking,” he said. “It is still my intention to make a full statement I about the future of the service at the earliest opportunity.” Rail backlog About 180 waggons are at railway sidings between Kaikoura and Spring Creek, waiting to cross to the North ! Island, writes the Blenheim reporter of “The Press.” ! The backlog has been] caused by the recent ferry; !strike and by the fact that! [two ferries are out of ser-j vice: the Aramoana has; mechanical trouble, and the! Aranui is undergoing her; annual survey. However, the Railways Department is not too worried 'by the freight build-up. “We were just beginning to clear the backlog caused ; by the strike. When the Aranioana packed up,” said the Railways traffic manager for Blenheim (Mr J. R. Griffiths') today.

The two cargo ferries Aratika and Arahanga were managing to cope with most of the freight, and it was expected to have the backlog cleared hv the week-end, said Mr Griffiths, The Arahanga took 100 passengers across Cook [Strait on the 4 p.m. sailing yesterday, and the same Inumber were taken on the

7.30 sailing this morning. Fifty vehicles were also taken to the North Island in the Arahanga yesterday.

The National Airways Corporation has scheduled five extra return flights from Wellington to Blenheim tomorrow.

Extra flights were also arranged yesterday and today, most using a S.A.F.E. Bristol Freighter with the Chatham Islands passenger capsule fitted. More than 370 extra passengers were carried across the strait each day, an N.A.C. spokesman said. Capital Airways has also scheduled three extra return flights to Blenheim tomorrow.

The breakdown in the Cook Strait passenger service spotlighted the vulnerability of the ferry system if a Ranga-tira-type passenger service were not continued. Mr D. S. McKenzie, the president of the Canterbury Progress League, said today.