Tasman Shipping Prospects Reviewed

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1947, Page 4

Tasman Shipping Prospects Reviewed

(Special) WELLINGTON Th* Day. An official of the head office of the Union Steam Ship Company commented yesterday on a report from Sydney yvhich stated that 700 people were registered for passages to New Zealand and that according to latest advice there would be no passenger chips running regularly across the Tasman until the beginning of next year.

The officials said the company had made the W.ahine available during the last four months as a stopgap, but it was now necessary to withdraw the vessel for annual survey and overhaul. The intention was to assist the position by re-engaging the Wahine in the Wellington-Sydney run, probably early in September next. The official explained that as far as his company was concerned the lack of transportation facilities was the result of the war. WAR CASUALTIES The Niagara and Awate'a were war casualties and the Monowai was still under Governmental wartime requisition until the completion of her reconversion for civil employment. This work had been in hand at Sydnqy since August, 1946, and, having been seriously delayed by industrial troubles, would not be completed earlier than about February, 1948.

For one period of four months all work on board was held up. The Monowai would in due course be employed solely in the carriage of passengers on the Tasman run.

Similar delays had occurred at Sydney in the reconversion of the liner Aorangi, which also was still under wartime requisition. The Aorangi would assist with Tasman traffic en route to and from Vancouver, beginning probably a little earlier than the Monowai.