VISITORS LEFT IN FIJI

Southland Times, Issue 23676, 26 November 1938, Page 20

VISITORS LEFT IN FIJI

ACCOMMODATION ON VESSELS FILLED DECEPTION PRACTISED BY ONE MAN (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, November 25. So many visitors are at present stranded in Fiji waiting for accommodation on vessels coming to New Zealand and Australia that one man who arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa practised deception to obtain a berth. With two other passengers carrying his luggage he walked on board at Suva and stayed in his friend’s cabin until the ship was well out to sea. He then went down to the purser, put down his passage money and demanded a bed. Because all the available accommodation was already taken there was no option but to place him in the hospital, where he slept for the voyage to Auckland. This man was one of ..lx former members of the staff of the Emperor gold mine at Fiji, who arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa. All, said one of them, Mr K. Henry, of Melbourne, had tried to leave Suva by the Niagara, but were then told they had little chance of obtaining berths, at least before Christmas. However, with the exception of the one who slept in the hospital, all of them managed to be accommodated on the Mariposa. Others who had inquired about berths on the various vessels had been told, said Mr Henry, that they would be fortunate if they were able to leave before next March. “I know that when I had my name on the waiting list,” said Mr Henry, “there were more than 60 other names on it. The majority of these people must still be in Suva. At my hotel there was a New Zealander who had gone to Fiji on holiday, intending to return by a definite date. The longer he stayed the more money he had to spend and finally, when a berth was secured for him on the Niagara at the intervention of the Customs authorities, he was literally down to his last shilling. “I was told before I left Suva by several New Zealanders and Australians that it seemed they would be lucky to

return to their homes in time for Christmas. Two men I know, one a bank officer, and the other a Government official on furlough, found it so impossible tc leave Fiji when they wanted to do so that they persuaded the owner of the English yacht. Ronda, Captain R. Hudson, to bring them on to New Zealand. The yacht left Suva on November 14 in the course of a world cruise and was to come to Auckland direct.”