3000 AWAIT SHIPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 7

3000 AWAIT SHIPS

TRAVEL TO DOMINION STRANDED IN AUSTRALIA LINER DIVERSION SOUGHT (10 a.m.) SYDNEY. Dec. 6. Efforts are being made to relieve the travel congestion between Australia and New Zealand, it was learned in shipping circles yesterday. There is a waiting list of 3000 persons in Sydney and Melbourne wanting to travel to New Zealand, but no ship is in sight to take them in the next few weeks. The Australian authorities . have appealed to Britain to have British liners calling at Australian ports diverted from Sydney to either Auckland or Wellington. The first request for the liner Asturias was not granted. The second request was for the liner Orbita. at present in Sydrfey, but it is understood she will not cross the Tasman. The third request is for the liner Ormonde, due at Sydney on Friday from London, to be diverted for one trip to Wellington with passengers. In shipping circles it is considered that some responsibility-wests with the British ships in view of the fact that British liners have been bringing passengers from London for New Zealand as far as Sydney, where they are stranded.

The liner Sarpedon broke the waterfront union’s “black” ban upon her sailing by leaving secretly from Sydney yesterday. Fifty-three Chinese firemen, who are on strike, were left ashore and the officers will help to man the stokehold on the voyage. The destination of the Sarpedon has not been disclosed officially, but she will avoid any other Australian port and probably go to Singapore or Hong Kong. The Sarpedon has been held up at Sydney since November 1 because or trouble with the Chinese crew over wages. Forty-nine of the 53 Chinese affected are still in gaol and the Immigration Department, will collect bonds amounting to £5300 —£100 for each Cl The S ffiner was to have sailed about the middle of November with passengers for Cape Town and Liverpool.