RESUMPTION OF SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 6

RESUMPTION OF SERVICE

MARIPOSA AND. MONTEREY POST-WAR REFITTING (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 31. The Matson liners Mariposa and Monterey should be ready to resume the San Francisco-Australia-New Zealand service about the middle of next year, said Mr N. Laidlaw, of San Francisco, who arrived in Auckland by the Marine Phoenix. Mr Laidlaw has teen appointed managing agent of the Oceanic Steamship Company in Sydney in succession to Mr C. E. Brown. The cost of refitting each of the ships after their long service as troop transports would be 8.000,000 dollars; Mr Laidlaw said. Although no major structural alterations would be made, they would be fitted with controlled air conditioning and improved cabin furnishings. The Marine Phoenix had been' chartered by the company to maintain the service while the conversion was taking place. Three trips to Australia, including the present one, were scheduled. It was hoped that when these were completed on May 2 the company would be able to resume its pre-war programme with three large liners. Mr Laidlaw was associated with the Oceanic Company before the outbreak of hostilities, but during the war was seconded to the State of California, and became Associate Director of Defence Transportation with the task of handling tfie shipment of men and materials from the Pacific coast of the United States. •