RETURN JOURNEYS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 6

RETURN JOURNEYS

ABSENTEES AND BERTHS

A Press Association message from Westport says that absenteeism in North Island industry is partly accounted for by difficulty in securing steamer accommodation, r and that many North Island holiday-makers are stranded on the West Coast, being unable to return by any of the three steamer services before the middle of the month. Inquiries made in Wellington today, however, show that a certain amount of accommodation is available, and the shipping companies concerned stress that any inconvenience now being suffered by persons on holiday is largely attributable to the fact that they did not make certain of their return by booking in advance. The steamer expresses from Lyttelto'n are fully booked for about a week, but there is ample room available on the Picton steamer. Tomorrow night's boat from Nelson is full and so is the boat on January 10, but there is accommodation for men on Saturday and next Tuesday. On Wednesday, January 12, and Friday, January 14, there is accommodation for men only, but January 13 is open for both men and women. From January 14 onwards normal facilities will operate for both sexes. The main demand for return bookings from Nelson came after December 20, indicating that many people who had planned their holidays could have made arrangements to get back.