DISAPPOINTED

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 94, 20 April 1916, Page 8

DISAPPOINTED

LEFT BEHIND BY FERRY STEAMER.

The fact that a number of intending passengers to Lyttelton were left behind by the ferry steamer Maori last night was the cause of complaints regarding the arrangements made to receive passengers by the Union Company. Several passengers had taken out their tickets the previous day, and had berths assigned them. Notwithstanding this, it is stated that many were forbidden to go on board the vessel, the reason being given that the ship was full. Major A. A. Corrigan, Officer in Charge of the Wellington Area Group, was one of the intending passengers left behind. Major Coriigan intended leaving for Lyttelton to be present on behalf of the Defence Department on the arrival of the TJlimaioa with wounded soldiers to-day. He states that he took tickets out on Tuesday for himself and other Defence officers, with berths marked on them. When he arrived at the wharf he was forbidden to go on board the vessel, as she was stated to be a, full ship. This happened in spite of the fact that tickets were still being sold on the wharf. To-day the Union Company gave an explanation of the. occurrence to a reporter. At rush times like Easter it was stated a good deal of confusion was inevitable. At tive o'clock last evening the bookings tor the Maori were 90 short of the ship's full complement. Instructions were issued to the wharf ticket box not to issue more than £0 tickets, and it is claimed that that number was not issued. At 7.30 p.m. there were still one hundred to go aboard before the full complement—7o9 —was reached. There was at that time room on board for all those holding tickets, and to whom berths had been allotted previously. The Customs officials declared the ship "full" at twenty minut-es to eight, at which time there was quite a number to whom tickets had been issued still standing on the wharf, and who had made no attempt to board the ship. It was also pointed out that at rush times people holding tickets should board the ship a reasonable period before the time of departure.