LITTLE SECRECY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 28 February 1941, Page 4

LITTLE SECRECY

SHIPPING MOVEMENTS

AUCKLAND AND SYDNEY

CONTRASTS

This is the story of a contrast in the defence regulations of two sister Dominions whose primary concern in shipping movements is secrecy, wrote a special correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald from Auckland on February 12.

Recently I left Sydney in a ship for Vancouver. There was "valuable

freight" on board. The hour of .the vessel's departure was not knowneven to those who had booked passages—until the last minute. At the wharf the most stringent regulations were enforced; passengers were subject to close scrutiny, and no friends or relatives were allowed beyond the wharf entrance. When the vessel sailed, two defence officers and a few officials were the only people on the wharf to wave farewell.

Four days later we reached Auckland. On the wharf a small group of men and women waved us to

our moorings, and it soon became evident that the hour of the ship's arrival was fairly widely known.

More, "valuable freight" was picked up at Auckland, and naturally it was expected that the same secrecy would be observed as at Sydney. Much to our surprise, however, crowds gathered outside the wharf gates several hours before the ship left, and it appeared that the hour of departure was as well known as the time of .arrival.

The scenes that followed were reminiscent more of peace-time than of war. An hour before we sailed the wharf gates were flung open, and at least 300 people streamed alongside..

Streamers were thrown, there were songs to the accompaniment of an accordion, and everybody was happy, except those on board, who thought that a little secrecy might have been more helpful. Messengers, girl friends, florists, telegraph boys, and even a sergeant of police rushed packages, flowers, letters, telegrams, and boxes on to the ship up to the time the gangway went down.

Even then packages' continued to arrive aboard through portholes.

At last we cast off, still stream-er-bound to the wharf. A steward said, "It's quiet this trip. The last three trips they had the band out, playing all day on the wharf."—

"Auckland Herald."