NIAGARA'S PASSENGERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17179, 5 June 1919, Page 8

NIAGARA'S PASSENGERS.

TRANSPORT TO SYDNEY.

SOME OBJECTIONS RAISED.

Difficulty has arisen in connection with the transport of passengers to Australia who arrived in Auckland on Friday by the Niagara from Vancouver.

The Union Company has arranged for the Moeraki, now in port, to take the passengers on, bnfc this does not meet with the approval of all the through passengers. Those in the first and third class seem prepared to accept any arrangement which will take them to Sydney as soon as possible, but thoso in the second j class object to tho accommodation offered them on the Moeraki. Several meetings j have been held on the Niagara, and two deputations have waited on the local manager of the Union Company to.voico I their grievances. Tho principal grievance lis that the Moereki's second-class accomI roodation is not equal to that on the 'Niagara, being, they contend, really steerage. Their tickets state that they will bo allowed saloon passages on any of the company's intercolonial or coastal boats to which they have to tranship. All tho first-class accommodation on the Moeraki, however, will bo occupied by the Niagara's first-class passengers. Tho second deputation to tho manager in Auckland asked whether tho company would pay the expenses of any who preferred to join another steamer at a Southern port. the reply being that if possible this would be done. At a meeting held on board last evening the names of 39 passengers who preferred that course were handed in. A further deputation is to wait upon the manager this morning in regard to the matter.

Delay in tho despatch of the Moeraki has been occasioned by sufficient manning not having been obtained, but it is hoped it will be possible for her to sail to-day.