FIGURES QUESTIONED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26904, 16 October 1948, Page 9

FIGURES QUESTIONED

PASSENGER ACCUMULATION IN AUSTRALIA

P.A:. WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. The lack of Tasman passenger shipping was due to the inability to date of the Governments which requisitioned the Monowai by legislative authority for war service to return the vessel for commercial service, according to a statement issued to-day by the Union Steam Ship Company. The statement said the Awatea was lost while under similar requisition. The congestion of passengers had been further increased by continuing difficulties experienced by the Tasman air service and by the stranding of the Wanganella, but it was considered there was nothing like the number of people in Sydney awaiting Tasman transportation that was indicated earlier in the week. It was anticipated that the Wanganella and the Monowai would become available in November and December for regular service, and in the meantime full use was being made of other vessels which became available for a trip from time to time.

A dog, by jumping on a gas cooker and turning on a tap, caused the death of his master, 53-year-old Ernest Herbert Gibbons, who was found gassed in a bedroom of his house in the London suburb of Cricklewood. Gibbons was in bed and was evidently asleep when the dog jumped.