§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Shipping if he is aware of the number of passengers who are unable to sail for Australia and Now Zealand owing to the shortage of accommodation, and whether, in view of the grave inconvenience caused, he can take early steps to place more vessels on this route?
Colonel WILSONI am aware there is a large number of passengers unable to obtain accommodation to Australia and New Zealand. Since May last about 35 voyages of ex-enemy steamers to Australasia have been arranged in order to reduce the demand on the ordinary liners for repatriating the Australasian Expeditionary Forces and their dependents. With the exception of about 15 per cent., all the accommodation in the Australasian liners is now available for ordinary passengers,1846W and in addition a number of ex-enemy steamers will remain on the Australasian route. The number of such steamers which it will be possible to leave on this route must depend on requirements elsewhere.