MATSON LINERS TO BE MODERNISED

Chronicle (Levin), 14 May 1946, Page 2

MATSON LINERS TO BE MODERNISED

— — " A totnl of 18,000,000 dollars will be .spanl npoii thc rcconvcrsiou and jnodcrniaation of thc Matson Navigation Conipany's paascngcr lincrs Lurlinc, Mariposa aiid Alontercy tvlicn the Govcx'nment returus thc ships to Matson for comnicrcia! operation," 'Mr. F. A. Bailcy, Matson president, announced in his annual rcport to stockholders. Approximately 0,000,000 dollars will 1)0 spent for restoration and modernisation aE each ship. Thc work will requirc ahout six months per ship. The l\Latsonia, fourth incniber of thc Matson passcngcr:flcet,. has just been relcascd by the.' (jQvcrninent and slio will be utilised for interinx scrvicc in thc llawaiian trade whilc tlic rcmaining passengcr stcamships arc under reconvcrsion. Thc, rcport emphasised that Matson is prcssing its application before thc C'ivil Acronautics Board for a ccrtificatc to opcrato plancs in conjunction with its steanicrs ovcr its rcgular stoanishlp routcs. Bummarising Matson 's war scrvicc, thc annual rcport slates that Matson lost 11 cargo vcsscls to enemy action or marino casualtics attributable to Avar conditions. "Prospccts for 1946 arc elouded by thc same uncertaintics of reconversion and restoration. which confronts all other Amorican business, J\lr. Bailcy said. "Whilc it is" inipossoblc at this timo to cstinmto vvhcn private operation cargo services can be resumcd in thc llawaiian trade, Matson hopes to be ablc to do so soon after the middle of Ihe year. Mcanwhile, it is making opcrating aiul cconomic studics of a postwar cargo scrvicc to Australia and New Zealand in addition to the Occanic eustomarv passengcr ship scrvicc to that area, and application has been made bv Matson to thc Uhited Statcs Maritime Bommission for thc rc-cstab-lishmcnt of these routcs. ; '