TRADE WITH THE EAST.

Northern Advocate, 7 July 1924, Page 7

TRADE WITH THE EAST.

AUSTRALIAN VENTURE UNPRO

FITABLE.

In view of the trade service with the East recently inaugurated by the

New Zealand Government, a statement, last week by the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Bruce), to < the effect that the Australian Government 's venture in the East was proving unprofitable, is interesting. Mr Bruce stated that trhe first, steamer to engage in the trade left Melbourne :>t. the end of 1919, and a regular three-weekly service was inaugurated at the beginning of 1921. The average number of ships engaged in the Java trade since t'he inauguration of the regular service had been three vessels. The revenue arid Expenditure, in connection with this sorvice from the date of 'first sailing to the time the Whipping Board took over control, had been as follows:—Revenue, £r>JB,907; expenditure, £(>44,258. Included in the revenue were the earnings of these ships when they were engaged in the Nauru-Australia and coital trades. The Shipping Board had relinquished the Singapore-Java trade upon receiving an undertaking from Messrs Ellerman ®and P.ucknall 'that tlie service would be continued.