LINERS MAY SAIL WITHOUT COMPLETE CARGO.

Chronicle (Levin), 18 March 1948, Page 6

LINERS MAY SAIL WITHOUT COMPLETE CARGO.

. WELLINGTON, Alarch 17. . Two Shaw, Savill liners, the Athenic and Akaroa, which are at present loading at Auckland will sail for Britain 011 March 25 whether they have completed loading or not. This was announced by thc Wellington ollice of the eompauy to-day in an official statement which reatl: "The sailings from Auckland of the Athenic for Glasgow and the Akaroa for Southampton and London have been delayed as the re.sult of 110 overtime being worked 011 the Auckland waterfront. It is now doubtful whether tho loading of these ships wil.1 he completpd by' Eaeter, ,'10 javQid.. the '.possibility of fjjr.ther ( delay, ithrough vessels ^eing .held'i'n Auckland^ jo.yer Egster it has becai decidecb to jdespatch them' pn ^'l^arc^ ^^ whether the lpiilling of re'frlgeihted'br genetai' cafgo has beexi completed or ndt: ^ ' . The.. vessels have one chahhe in 'a hundred of being ±)ully " ' loa&ed ' 'bf Mafcli5 25,'"' s'hid the . compariy oMcfais. "iV'is impossibl'e to'say 'hbw' much cargo they mav leave behind as • so ■many .factoSrsi'ehter flito loadihg: ' The i;"iain' cahse of the dbfiriite despa'tuh 1s1 'the fabjt' that tf 'wilhhe "' impossible" "for intending passengers to » .remain- 1 im , Auckland hotels- over Easter • asT there. ' ,is 110 aceominodation for them.'-. Tp.hold both the vesesls- over -the v'.fbur. :dayk' I holiday to complete the loading- is -nof S warranted. . : io -ii"- • •- .• "i ' : h^iThe^AkariO&jiiwhibl) w,as dne tovsailnoat ■ Mao'.eh- 3,,'is 0. v#y : jthiT'.efi uWeeks,'- i .,beh5-Kd ) tschedule. "phe. Athenfc .was due to. sail \ i bn 4'iarch "9 aiyd. so rihas been put^back | 16 days by the loss .of overtinie work. ' Fully loaded the ships would carr? about 16,000 tons of produce to Britain, mainly refrigerated foodstuifs.