THE 'FRISCO SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 5

THE 'FRISCO SERVICE.

• 4 ITS VALUE TO NEW ZEALAND. CONSUL-GENERAL'S REPORT. Tho "San Francisco Call," of a rccclit date, states:—Thore is great regret in New Zealand over tho suspension of the steamship lino from tho United States to Australasia, according to a report received at Washington from Consul-General William A. Prickett, of Auckland, who, in referring to the need for such a service, says:— Tho United States and New Zealand aro particularly interested in first-class inter T communication. Their trado, which has increased nearly 300 per cent, in tho last ten years, and now exceeds 10,000,000 dollars annually, demands a fast mail, passenger and cargo servico to and from San Francisco at intervals of not more than three weeks. The boats in this service should be as good or better than-thoso of any line now plying between Europe and Australasia. This line, for obvious reasons, should touch at Honolulu and Pago Pago and carry the Amorican flag. Such a fast mail and passenger lino from San Francisco to Sydney, .calling at Auckland outward and inward, would be of great value to New Zealand and also to. tho United States, for tho following reasons: —' ' (1) If tho boats were not less than 10,000 tons burden, capablo of making an averago of 16 knots an hour without forcing, with' ''up-to-date cabin accommodation, thero would certainly bo steadily-increasing travel from Europe by this route, incidentally leaving considerable sums of money in tho United States. ■ (2) The trade of tho United States with Australasia, now amounting ,to ovor 40,000,000 dollars per annum, would bo conserved and increased. There are great possibilities in future trado with these British Commonwealths, considering their largo areas, abundant prosperity, and increasing population. (3) A great international routo liko this passing through our most important Pacific port would greatly aid tho development of our wholo Pacific coast, and (4) The United Statos would hefe tho needed regular communication with its possessions in tho Samoan Islands. If tho United States wishes to securo the important' advantages mentioned, it should act beforo a/perniaiient satisfactory service shall havo been established, via Vancouver. Now Zealand is not getting the. accommodation it needs, for tho Vancouver, service is slow, does not touch at Auckland, and mail connections havo' to bo made via Fiji outward; and Sydney inward.

Since tho withdrawal of the Oceanic lino there hai:o been many complaints from the merchants of Auckland and other parts tjf Now' Zealand.' Now that tho 'boats have been taken off it is realised that moro strenuous efforts should havo been made to retain tho servico. That the merchants of Auckland aro anxious for a better mail service' as scon as possible was evidenced at a recent meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. A motion was carried, •" That tho chairman bo empowered, in the name of the Chamber, tojnako representations to tho Government in the direction of securing an imnrovcd' scrvico."

A servico such as has been described, making it possible to mako the voyago from London to Auckland in twenty-six days, and from San Francisco to Auckland in sixteen days, would have to bo subsidised sufficiently to guarantee the owners from losing money at tho start. After a few years it might bo necessary only to pay for tho actual cost of the'transportation' of tho mails.