CORONATION VISITORS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 5

CORONATION VISITORS

STEAMERS FOR ENGLAND NEW ZEALAND BOOKINGS Inquiries made in Wellington at a city tourist bureau revealed that the abdication of King Edward VIII and the subsequent accession to the Throne of King George VI have not had any apparent effect on the bookings to England for the Coronation. which is to take place on May 12 of next year. Although bookings are heavier than they have been for several years past, there are fewer steamers to accommodate the travellers, and the result has been that many people who left the booking of their berths too late have found that the best accommodation has gone and they are unwilling to travel at cheaper rates and in correspondingly less comfortable conditions. If there had been more vessels scheduled to sail just prior to the Coronation, it is felt that there would have been little difficulty in filling them. Practically all the boats which will arrive in England within a short time of the Coronation are fully booked, although there is still some space left on the Rangitata, and odd berths on other steamers. Possibly the reason for berths being still left on the Rangitata is because she will arrive Home just two days before the Coronation, leaving passengers the minimum of time in which to find accommodation before the celebrations. The Arawa, which will leave New Zealand on March 27 on her first trip from New Zealand to England under the Shaw, Savill flag, has also some accommodation available. The Orion, leaving Sydney on February 24 for London, was completely booked out some months ago, the Suez route being very popular with travellers. Until recently few passengers thought to secure passages on the Merkur and Marella, travelling from Australia to Java or Singaoore, thence by Dutch mail lines to Britain, but lately this service has had a fair number of bookings.