PASSENGER SHIPPING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 17, 28 August 1946, Page 7

PASSENGER SHIPPING

SERVICE IMPROVES POST-WAR TRADING Present indications are that the passenger shipping trade between Britain and New Zealand will be almost back to normal by the middle of next year. Already many liners have been returned to their owners by the British Ministry of War Transport, which operated them during the war. They are being refitted for the civilian passenger trade. Only troopships and civilian transports, carrying large numbers of war brides and next-of-kin of servicemen and the few members of the armed forces still overseas, are still operating under the British Ministry of War Transport. The Akaroa, which was never used as a troopship, is carrying out its normal run between the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The Arawa is at present being refitted and the Dominion Monarch, at present on the way to New Zealand, is expected to be refitted on return to Britain. These Shaw Savill Albion vessels will be one-class ships. The Waipawa has been running regularly to New Zealand, while the Wairangi and Waiwera, which carry about 90 passengers in the tourist class, have been trading to other waters. These vessels are expected soon to return to normal work to the Dominion. All will be refitted and their passenger accommodation will probably be lowered to 12. This will place them in the category of cargo ships. Two other Shaw Savill ships, the Tamaroa and Mataroa, are still in service as troopships. The New Zealand Shipping Company vessels Rangitiki and Rang'itata, which have been running throughout the war as troopships, are expected soon to resume normal trading.

The company’s liner Rimutaka and Ruahine did not carry troops during the war and have been trading consistently to the Dominion recently. They will resume the United Kingdom-New Zealand regular run.

The number of passenger vessels trading to New Zealand will be increased next year by the new Shaw Savill passenger and cargo ship Corinthic and, in 1948 by the New Zealand Shipping Company’s Rangitoot, which is being built in Britain to replace the sunken Rangitane.

Three more Shaw Savill vessels -will join the trade as their building is completed in British yards. The Rakaia, which has recently been purchased by the New Zealand Shipping Company, will carry considerably fewer passengers than other ships of the company’s fleet. She will accommodate about 46, mainly in three-berth cabins.