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Chronicle (Levin), 12 May 1947, Page 7

— — —Pr?ss Association

Bjj Teleamvh-

WELLINGTON, May 11. The cost • oi! salvaging ■ the liner Wanganella from Barrett's' reef is put at £ 0,000, apd the ceiling priee for rtpair work at £325,000. In a' report from the Salvage Association 's gurveyor • published by Lloyds, ' the surveyor states: "After a full discussion with the owners and repairers, we agree that owing to the labour and material position, the only practical method to effiect repairs here is to obtain fabricated material from the builders to an approximate weight of 512 tons. The repairers are um vvilling to • agree to a fixed contract price but are willing to undertake to repair on a cost-plus basis. With the Government restrietion regarding overheads and proiit, the ceiling priee indicated under present conditions is £325,000 (New Zealand). It is projiosed to effeet minor temporary .repairs to enable the vessel to leave dock pending delivery of the material in July. The estimated time to elfect repairs is 1$ weeks from delivery of material. The above price is exclusive of salvage charges .which, owing to the rates granfed by tribunals, is. probably ap proximately £70,000 (N.Z.). Temporary, repairs are meanwhile held up pending (in agreem'ent between the unions and repairers regarding wages." This report is published in Lloyds list" which has now roached New Zealand. Since it was written Mr. Jame.> Cable, inanaging director of the repaii firm of Willia.nl Cable and Company Ltd., has stated that, because of labou trduble, the original Order for plates foi the major part of the repair work, placed in Britain, has been cancelled. Mr.; Cable said tonight that every day the Wanganella lay idle the cost? invojved increased. The order foi oteel had not yet been re-ontered. The Wanganella was built at a cosl of £520,000. ■ "