LINER AORANGI SHOWS LOSS ON PACIFIC SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26958, 18 December 1948, Page 7

LINER AORANGI SHOWS LOSS ON PACIFIC SERVICE

NZPA—Copyright CANBERRA, Dec. 17.

A high Commonwealth official states that the trans-Pacific liner Aorangi makes a loss on every trip. On her maiden voyage after her reconditioning in August and September she lost £150,000. She cost £2,000,000 to recondition. Although carrying a full passenger list on each trip, the Aorangi lifted insufficient cargo to make her pay. Dollar Subsidy Refused A high Government source states that the Australian Government refused an American interest’s dollar subsidy to help cover losses from the resumption of the trans-Pacific service. The Matson Line recently told the Australian Government that it was considering resuming the service with the liner Matsonia. The Government examined the proposal and told company officials that Australia could not contemplate a dollar subsidy although it welcomed the suggestion of the resumption of the service. A Washington message reports that Mr W. C. Peet, a Matson vice-presi-dent, said that the question of an Australian subsidy was never raised but that the Matson Line had suggested to the Commonwealth that there should be some relaxation of currency restrictions to \ enable passengers to obtain dollars for visiting the United States which would increase the company’s passenger traffic. The line also suggested other concessions of a minor character which would help to . ease the financial burdens on the operations and would put the Matson Line on the same basis as British shipping Matsonia Sold to Panama Meanwhile, a message from San Francisco says the Matson Line announced to-day that the liner Matsonia had been sold to Panamanian Lines Incorporated of Panama, and would sail soon for Genoa, Italy. It is understood that for the next few months she will be used on the Atlantic passenger run. The sale agreement between the Matson and Panamanian lines stipulates that the United States Government can requisition the vessel for national safety purposes should the need arise.