CRUISE SHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 87, 13 April 1938, Page 12

CRUISE SHIPS

STAY AT WELLINGTON

The question of inducing cruise ships to stay longer in Wellington was discussed at last night's meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce by Mr. A. R. Hislop. He said that representatives ■of the Cunard-White- Star Line had consented to discuss the position with the chamber, and satisfactory replies had been received from the Department of Industries and Commerce and the representatives of. the Hamburg-Amerika Line, agents for the Reliance! which was to call at Wellington soon. The representatives of the Cana.dian Pacific Railway had given reasons why the Empress of Britain had been unable to stay longer in Wellington. He had stated that it was more convenient to discharge at Auckland passengers wishing to visit Rotorua, but it had been noted that many passengers preferred to leave the ship at Wellington and travel overland. No unusual preparations had been made for the arrival ,of the Empress of Britain. The ship had entered the harbour without a local pilot, and no dredging had been necessary anywhere in the harbour. There was a suggestion that the charges at Wellington were a little heavier than at other ports, but actually the charges for bringing the ship into Wellington were little different from those at Auckland. The council should find out whether there was any good reason for keeping these ships away from Wellington. In reply to a question, Mr. Hislop said that the difference between the charges at Wellington and Auckland was £3 on a 42,000-ton vessel, and in Auckland some dredging had to be done.

The Chairman (Mr. P. E. Patlrick): The charges at Auckland were £417 and at Wellington £420.