KATOOMBA AND ZEALANDIA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14589, 26 April 1918, Page 6

KATOOMBA AND ZEALANDIA.

RKQUISITIONED BY.: BRITAIN. MELBOURNE, April*4B. •'Although the Katoomba and the Zealandia have been 'mider .offer to' the 'Imperial Government for some time, it was only yesterday that they ' wgre officially requisitioned,"; said .Rear-Ad-miral Sir William JClarkson, -Cohtrollev of Shipping, commenting to-da!y on. the published statement of ."Dr. RichaVd Arthur, that the "Katoomba, instead of leaiving Sydney with ' racegoers, should be leaving for New York;" "As a business proposition," added. Sir William, "iti would have been madness to take. ; the Kato6mba off :her regular run' until "we knew officially that the Imperial authorities wanted her- The only alternative jWa&to lay her up, ;and that course. wollld probably have made Dr.f Arthur ev.enmore indignant than ha now* prof 6ssiis to he at our allowing her : to remain m the inter-State passenger tnidc/ 'Anticipating that *; some of our boats would be wanted by the Imperial authorities, we-made, somei time ago,, all the' (arrangements -: f oi'^ the- necesspry fittings and alterations; so" -that there would 'lift* no*- delay m despatching: them ;oveytea»-' We liaVe other, boats under offer for overseas work, but until we are: notified by the Imperial ' Government that they are >vanted. . : . we intend to pm^ue the same course. ' with.-, them" As we have done with the Katoomba."