THE ALLEY LINE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 310, 24 September 1908, Page 7

THE ALLEY LINE.

PROPOSED INCREASE^OP;SUBSIDY. ' In 1906 the New Zealand '■ Government entered into a three years' agreement with the Alley Line for a two-monthly service between New Zealand ports'arid Vancouver, which service has been maintained by the steamers Indravelli and Den of Ruthven, vessels of 8000 tons register/ It is claimed that the service has been- gradually improved into a twenty-fivo days' run, and that now tho steamers aro. being used as mail-oarriers. From Canada these vessels bring Oregon pine, cannod salmon, and general merchandise and produce,- and return with very little of what this'country is competent to export, owing to Hie fafe't' that" no cool storage is provided. .i'-> « •w.v.-v Interest has been added to :this-partioular contract by tho arrival in Wellington of Mrs. Alley, who has come to New Zealand representing tho steamship.. linp that boars her name-to induce the Government to increase the_ subsidy from £10,000 to £15,000 annually, in return for which she promises to put another steamer on tho run, to make it a monthly service, _ and provide certain passenger accommodation and cool storage for 500 tons of produce. Mrs. Alley argues that there is a good market waiting in Western Canada for our mutton, buttor ' and other produce that 'can only- be exported in steamers that have cool storage accommodation, and it is for the Government to consider whether tho new proposition would not bo more advantageous than tho present one. Mrs. Alley states that the Canadian Government, which has been subsidising the lino on the same terms as New Zealand, has promised the additional £5000 for tho improved service which : she hopes to establish between tho two countries.