SYDNEY DIRECT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 12

SYDNEY DIRECT.

NEW STEAMER SERVICE SUGGESTED. SOUTH ISLAND ISOLATED.

The Transport Committee of the Can« terbury Chamber of Commerce asked last evening to investigate the question of the steam®* service between the South Island and Australia, and par* ticularly the possibility of establishing a direct connexion with Sydney. The Dunedin Chamber forWarde<| a copy of a letter sent tw» (he Postmaster-General in gard to the , Melbourne-lioW*h Island shipping service. This was /as follows:—Our attention has been drawn to a statement made by you in Auckland recently that the extended Go'Pernment mail subsidy on the steamed service between Melbourne and the ftonth Island had lapsed. This chambcir has been given to understand that the Union Steam Ship Company is on the loiok-out for a steamer to replace the Hjrtnuka, and that it had thp backing Jot the Government. Writing to thss Chamber in January last, the Prime M?Siffter (£if Joseph Ward) said that the of arranging an improved setffviee had been discussed with the gonial manager of the Union Steam Ship and that taegotiationa were tinder way to secure another vessel t<» assist the Maheno. It would, appe/vr, however, that your statement made jn Auckland indicates that no steps ha d yet been taken to repl&oe the M;i/iaka. The whole position is regarded ;as being very unsatisfactory, and shows, a lack of interest 06 the part of Union Steam Ship Company, ahd also. to some es« tent, on the part of the Government in hot seeing that the c«i npany fulfilled Hie entered into 'with the Postal Department. On behalf of the various South Island organisations for which this Chamber i» acting we Would be glad to know wh:tf, steps are* being taken to provide a sacond steamer to carry on the servtce*. , V , B - Could not the ffisarit zss&krg*