"Matua" For Survey
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
rE shipping position in the South Pacific is not likely to be improved by the withdrawal of the Union Steam Ship Company’s MV “Matua” for annual survey after her return to Auck land from the Islands about July 19.
“Matua” is expected to be laid up for about a month during which time only tentative arrangement's for maintaining the Auckland-Piji-Polynesia service have been made by the Union Company (see shipping tables this issue).
As reported in the last issue of “PIM”
“Matua” is still carrying over 100 pass engers per trip instead of the normal 42.
Her withdrawal for one trip is likely to put many more prospective passengers on the waiting list for months to come.
The travel position in that part of the Pacific serviced by “Matua” should be somewhat eased, however, by the New Zealand Government’s newly inaugurated civilian air service between Auckland and Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga and the Cooks. (See elsewhere this issue.)