Pacific Shipping Position Shows

No -Improvement

Industrial Disputes, Rising Costs and Shorter Hours Put Companies on the Spot

ALTHOUGH the shipping services be tween Australian and ' < Papua-New Guinea have shown considerable improvement since the “Malaita” came out of dock and went on to the Sydney- Port Moresby-Samarai-Rabaul run, thus relieving the “Montoro.” which does mainland ports in New Guinea, the over all shipping position in the Pacific is worse, if anything, than during the war.

Sydney-North American Ser

VICES: It was announced in July that the two Matson liners, “Monterey” and “Mariposa,” which are being refitted in San Francisco, will not return to the Pacific trade until well on in 1948. It was hoped that these ships which have been in dock for over a year, would be back before the end of this year. Work was suspended on them in mid-July while the company made new plans. Originally it was intended to modernise these ships from the waterline, but reasons given for suspension of this work were: In creased costs in labour and materials, in dustrial hold-ups and the uncertain effect of air competition across the Pacific. It is estimated that operating costs on voyages have increased 106 per cent.— the cargo handling rate in Auckland, NZ, for example, is only half the pre-war figure.

The “Marine Phoenix” is at present maintaining a fairly regular schedule from Sydney to San Francisco. She carries only “priority” passengers and is usually unable to pick up or set down pasengers at intermediate Islands ports.

The “Aorangi,” which belongs to Cana dian-Australasian, an affiliate of the Union Company, is refitting in Sydney and was to be back on the Sydney-Van couver run in February 1948. No pro gress reports on this vessel have been issued for some time, but it is expected that it will be much later in the year before she is ready.

In July there was a “blackleg” of 2,000 Australians waiting for passages from America to Australia.

TASMAN SERVICE: There is no ser vice between Sydney and New Zealand at the present time. It is expected, how ever, that the “Wahine,” which was on the run earlier in the year and was then withdrawn, will be back on this service in September. Tasman Empire Airways is at present the only means of passen ger communication between the two countries.

AUSTRALIA-FIJI: There is no regular passenger shipping service between Aus tralia and Fiji, and other South Pacific ports. Before the war, this was ade quately taken care of by the Matson ships and the Canadaian -Australian line.

P/u^xri Z T^ LAND ’ FIJI AND SOUTH

Pacific Island Ports: The Matua

continues to maintain a five or six weekly schedule between Auckland, Suva, ionga, Apia, and return. Owing mostly to labour unruliness, delay is experienced Sli h L- urn " around in Auckland, other wise this ship could maintain a four weekly schedule. io3? atua ” should have sailed from Auck and on July 29, but was held up by a waterside workers’ dispute and was

still in Auckland on August 4. Water siders, who refused to lay dunnage in one of her holds, were dismissed. Subse quently they did not answer the call to load her. Meantime, island passen gers were left kicking their heels in Auckland. After this trip of “Matua,” she will be withdrawn for annual sur vey and expects to be back on the run about the begining of October.

The Government vessel “Maui Pomare” is maintaining a passenger and freight service between Auckland and the Cook Islands, with occasional calls at other Groups. The NZ Government has been unsuccessfully trying to purchase a larger and more suitable vessel.

Sydney-Norfolk Island-Lord

HOWE-NEW HEBRIDES; Because the “Morinda,” the regular steamer on this run, has had to go into dock for over haul these islands will be without pas senger services for about three months.

The small BP ship “Muliama” will carry essential supplies to these islands; but the only passenger communication will be between Norfolk Island and New Zealand, which is served by a RNZAF Dakota airservice.