PASSENGERS ACCUMULATE

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1946, Page 7

PASSENGERS ACCUMULATE

-Press Association

tasman air seryice fully taxed

By Telearaph—

AUCKLAi^-Lq Apxui J.J.. With an accumuiauon of -±uU pros-pet-Li\ e pussimgex's au axtxxxg transport xuy cixr rruiu AueKluiili to oytlney, aua with lIic ever-present liiielniood of the dst being increased froui day to day >ty travejaers noiuing xngn LovernmeiitLfasuea prxorities, Tasman Lmpire Axr ways, i-,tdv is imumg its resourees runy exieiuled. The posxtion at preseiiL is furtiier eompiieaied uecause one or tne iwo modxned C-elass Lnipire fljnng-boats, the Aotearoa, is uxxder ovui'jxiUj, iea\ixxg tnc Aivaxua to do ali iue ix y iii^ 10X' luu linxxiiexit. Axx atuicigix oi oU 1 orscms a week ean uy the two aireiai t i..axntaming lxormal scliedules, liut Uns xd.es not necessarily meaxi that xxt the ei.d of eight vveeks, the fUO xxow waitxxxg will have been catered tor. O11 ti.e contrary, it is mJxy expeeted timi \ arious fxietors, ineludixig the introduction iixto the list ox ixxgii pncxx u\ -lioiiiors, and unfavouralxle weather ixecess. tating more fuel aud thus iess pasMMxgei'S, will cxxuse ionger delav to lixosc wlxo have booked 0 u l are weii dowxi ti.e priority list. It is tlius by 110 oteau. > certain that all J the 4(h) 110 \v 011 the list will get away ! within ihe m'xt eight weelcs. Tasman Kmpire A.rwavs is required j to accommodate Goverrinieixt priorities, j and since tiiese are fi-.irly nunierous and ! occtir often at sliort iiotiee, less f'avour- j ed travellers ciiunot be given a do- j parlurc date in the near future. Mail Has .-.'riority. A sndden infiux ';t xiiail ntay xilso unset the ealetilat ioixs of tliOHe await j iiig their tuni to iiy. hlail has priorO ily over all passeagers, while freight couies til the bottom of the list. The j recent issue oi New Zealand 's peaee st ;i oi | is, resulliitg in rnich lieavier })ostings tlian usual, cosl several passengers j their seals lasl week. lustoad of the I usual >(10 ptyinds oi' mail, tliere was j 1 (>00 ])f>inids olTeriiig an 011c trip aud j aboul 10(10 pounds 011 the next, and on botli o"c!i' ioiip pas-rngers had to be j delaved to enable the nuxil to be car- i . , - $ 1 ned. The priorities are Ihe business of the | frovernnient and are noi issued by 1 Tasman Airways. Tliey are eontrolledi by the -External Alfairs De]>a rtxnent j ! 'tui ihe liiternaJ Alfairs Depurt nieiil, j 11 I I'ail into four categories accoi'ding •o ihe esliiuated inipoi tanee if the 1 •l>olii-:iul aud of his business. Persons ; : vho do not come within any of the 1 four priority categories are listed in a •; oool. rtii'l :il Ihe moment eoinjuxrat ively : i'eu in fhis ciass are able to 1 >0 accoiuo- j dalml. More rapid disposal of the aceumii- j 'al'ul bookiugs inay !>(> possible in the j near future, whon it is planned to in- j •rease the frequently of the serviee. | !h"'iniiing on May 20 and continui ng j unlil about the iniddlo of .lune, it isj plau'.icd to ojierate four returu tripsi aeross the Tasman eacli week, and later' still, Avhen the new and larger flying-j boats are deli\'ered, a d'ailv serviee is envisaged. Tor those travellers A\din are nuable to obtain ai reraft passage aeross the Tasman thore is little hope at presertt of an imiuodiate sea erossing. Thore is ti ) re"ular s^rvic' rn.l ee-o'it srilin'*s : have been eonuned to oeensioml Amo- ! riean lineis and passengor lin'ers en | '•onte from the Dominion to England j ■■'ia Hue/.. Priorities for travel are issued by Arniy TTead(|uarters in Wel- ' 'ington and a fairly large nuniber of j Xew Zoalanders are waiting. Vbliou'di it is possible that the 1 tfuddart-Park'M' liner Wanganella and Ihe pre-war IMatsen serviee may be re-stnj-ed to the Tasman rm in a few •nnnths. iin del'nite announeements have vot dates.