SAILING DIRECT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 6

SAILING DIRECT

Passengers From Dunedin ACCOMMODATION ON EASTERN When the Eastern leaves for Japan via Australia this week passengers for overseas destinations will, for the first time in many months, be able to sail direct from Dunedin. The Eastern, which arrived at the port yesterday, has accommodation for 30 passengers and although the list has not yet been completed it is expected that there will be a full booking when the ship sails tomorrow afternoon. She is bound for Melbourne direct and will then resume the company’s normal trading between Australia and the East. Completed during the war the Eastern is one of the replacements made by the Eastern and Australian Line, which lost its three ships in action. All of the 22 officers.are Australians, but the crew is composed entirely of Chinese.' Successful Occupation

Constant contact with the Japanese has given the purser,'Mr O. E. Provis, a rare opportunity of studying their present outlook. In a brief interview with the Daily Times yesterday, Mr Provis said that industrially, Japan was rapidly improving. “ Its war-damaged factories are now operating fully, the education system is being rebuilt and there are no signs of resentment at the occupation authorities,’’ he said.

Mr Provis credits the Allied occupation forces for this vast improvement in Japan. He cannot determine, however, whether the Japanese are discarding their ancient traditions or whether* the, change is superficial for the Japanese were a difficult people to understand. “At present, the Japanese and the occupation forces are working hand in hand,” he said. Mr Provis’s. observations of Japan have been recorded for the New Zealand radio service. He has given several broadcasts in Hongkong and Japan on Australian affairs, and on his return to the East hopes to include New Zealand affairs in his broadcasts.