THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13906, 3 December 1910, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

♦ ' OCEANIC COMPANY'S PLANS. (FEOM OTJR OWN COBIUOSPOKDBST^ SAN FRANCISCO, November 2. There is no possibility of the Ocsamc Steamship Company renewing its service between San Franciso, Auckland and Sydney in the immediate future. Mr L. Cockroft, general passenger agent of the company, in an interview with vonr correspondent, made it c l* ar that it is still a question of subsidy. Until either the United States Government or the :s'e\v Zealand Government will furnish a subsidy satisfactory to the company tho old service will be resumed. . _. Mr Corkroft said the Oceanic. Compaiiv had had some communication by cabfe with the Auckland Chamber ot Commerce, whoso president had inquired as to the prosperts, but nothing definite had been arranged. It uas not to be expected, he said, that the New Zealand Government would subsidise two services, and, as it had already made one contract with the Union Company for twelve months, for the direct service, via Tahiti and Rarotoima, the Oceanic could not look for any" aid from that quarter. Asked whether his company was continuing its efforts to obtain *a subsidy from the United States Government, ho said no active steps were being taken, as it was thoimht hotter to leave the matter to the free will of Congress. If a sidy were provided, however, it was certain that some American company would put on a line to New Zealand and Australia. He added that the Sierra, Sonoma and Ventura, the boats formerly on the Auckland run, would bo able to make the journey with clocklike regularity. They wouid be equipped with oil fires, and would bo able to carry enough fuel for the whole round trip. The Sierra is already working successfully with oil fuel on the Honolulu-San Francisco run.