WANGANELLA REPAIRS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 16 December 1947, Page 8

WANGANELLA REPAIRS

WORK IN GREAT BRITAIN BUSINESS LOYALTY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. Business loyalty was a factor in the decision to send major repairs for the Wanganella to Great Britain, said Mr. J. Cable, of William Cable and Company, speaking at the annual social of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Institute of Marine and Power Engineers on Saturday. Mr. Cable said the firm had been criticised for not importing the plates and doing all the repair work for the Wanganella in Wellington. For many years Cables had maintained a service for the bulk of the shipping in Wellington. They had decided to import—from the overseas source where the necessary materials and strength of staff were available—such parts as the double bottom for the bow.

The work as imported already manufactured would be much cheaper and quicker than if done in New Zealand and the means adopted would obviate inconvenience to firms which had been customers for upwards of a century. The chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. W. H. Price, said the loss of the Wanganella had been a direct one to the country and it was hoped that when the repair materials arrived there would be no further trouble.