SERIOUS SHIPPING POSITION

Chronicle (Levin), 3 April 1946, Page 2

SERIOUS SHIPPING POSITION

NO IMPROVEMENT LIKELY AUCKLAND, ipril 2. Although the ligurq 13^ not comparab!' with the number a-Uaiting'' passage. from the United Kingdom to New Zealanid, 'itlieTeUare at present 1500 people ii. the Dominion who have applied to travel to Britain. , In annouucing thi; total, the Coordinator of Shipping'fi Army Headquarters, Wellington,- Cap tain Molineaux, stated in a telephotl. interview with the H'erald that the shipping position now was the worst u had been for three or four years, and there was no indicatiou when it would improve. . The diversion of some passengei liners normally devoted to the New Zealand trade to pick up Atistraliau.-: for England had affeeted the situation Several large vessels , had left tlle BeWiinidju 'iifJepenT.anoSiths for Eii'glaiiu via Anstralia and Sue^.,anrd New Zeai landers had been allotted either only ;i small proportion of the- 'accoilniLodR.tiqii or none at all. These vessels were rout|ed'mHderrtirejcontrol*o;f''the Mims'fry ot^•War/lhiansppl^vwMoh had fo study the overali demands for shippinu, rathei

than seotional requiremen'ts, | •' Although few passeug'e'f jiners sueh as the AkaroSy.^'.Kiclv ieave^?Wdllingtoii early next nionth for ..|jbnd0£. ama, are Jifting passengers ,in New Zealand, "much reliance is placed ■ by Army Headquarters on cafgo. VesseL carrying 20v'- or • 436' £febple. This form of transport, howevei1, is doicig little to cope with the number of '111 feilding paslseiigeraj w'hidh is steauily. accumulating;- • •• - .* - The position of intending travellers "td 'tlfe' E&st, "ivc^o-rdiiig t'o tlie Ai'iny of - ficial, is even worse. There is a^ large demand for passages, but no shipping has been available. Civilian bookings to the United States will for some months at least require high prioritv. The Australian trade' oil'ers the oniy bright outlook, irregular sailings from New Zealand having largely coped witli the position. Control of priorities by Army Headquarters, introduced during the war, will probably be maintained until the shipping routes return to normal, and it is expected that 011 this will al'sQ depeiul the , elimiuaf ion of exit pormits. l.nteiidin^ passengers, after obtaining Do partmeiit of Infenial AlTairs and taxntion - elearances, may book passages : with;-the. sliipping companies, but their names are forwarded to Army Head quarters, where the prioritv o'f their journey is determined. . From that poinr 1 the travelier goes to the waiting list., and one with average prioritv may be held three or four months for a berth. The system of control by the militarv of bookings is claimed by some shipping firms to have disadvautages, but othera in the industry are content to leave present-day travel problems in the care of one executive authorify.