THE FRISCO SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 907, 29 August 1910, Page 5

THE FRISCO SERVICE.

* —— FOR ONE YEAR ONLY. PRIME MINISTER GIVES SOMB FURTHER DETAILS. VANCOUVER ALTERNATIVE. Supplementing his remarks made in the House on Saturday morning in regard to) the new mail service between New Zealand and.San Francisco, Sir Joseph Ward, states that the arrangement made is for ' one year. At the end of that time, said. the Prime Minister, iwo would have lenders for the Vancouver service. If we got tho latter service it would bo a threeweekly one, with Auckland as the port of arrival and departure.--If the service ■' just arranged was satisfactory, wo would have tho right of renewing it for a further period of two years, the servico to go right on to San Francisco and back, : and the extension would only cost an additional £12,5110.' If Neiv Zealand wore not included in tho Vancouver service, it would be necessary to arrange for fast boats to bo put on the San Francisco run. By the end of the year we would know what the new Vancouver service was to be, and if Auckland were not ineluded the whole position would bo open for roview with a view to providing for an improved service. Sir Joseph explained that no embarrass ment was to be anticipated from the American coastal. laws, us Papeete (a French settlement) had been made a pori > of call instead of Honolulu. , It is understood that the new service will begin from Wellington on October 19, and will be four-weekly thereafter. From Wellington the vessels will go to Auckland, thence to Rarotouga, Papeete, and San'' Francisco, returning to Welling, ton via Papeete and Rarotonga. •■ - The Aorangi and Urn Maitai. which are to inaugurate the service, will both bo able to carry considerable quantities of New Zealand produce in their cool chani- - bers, and tho service will enable 'perishable products to be shipped at Wellington and landed in San ' Francisco without transhipment, and vice versa. It is in landing goods direct from America without transhipping charges that merchants will benefit from the service. IS IT A COUNTERBLAST? TO CHECK AMERICAN PROPOSITION. Sir Joseph Ward's announcement in the Houso on Saturday morning that a newmail servico had been Arranged by the Government from New Zealand to San, Francisco came like a bolt from the blue, even to those people who make it a point to keep as closely as possible, in touch with mail matters. A few weeks ago a hot controversy raged' between tho Auckland and .Wellington Chambers of Commerce on the question of mail ser- ' vices, Auckland, . through Mr.' Gunson claiming that a service betwwn that' port and Vancouver would bo a very de? sirablo one. The Welliugton Chamber, with greater caution aud a due consideration for the heavy cost that such . a service would entail,. maintained that on the whole New Zealand ,was very wcjl served as far as mail services were concerned, and the. expense of ,tho extra.' servico via Vancouver was not in the least degree justified. The warm terms in which Mr. Gunsou-'s letters'were written at length compelled the president' of tho'Wellington Chamber of Commerce • (Mr. H, C. Tewsley) to discontinue the correspondence, since when little has developed beyond the decision of the Com. monweelth Government not to agree to the Vancouver mail boats calling at Auc'il.-.nd. On August' 17, however, the following . cutting, appeared iu The Dominion - .—' ■' "The San Fraucisco 'Examiner' of July 3 publishes a report ;from, a hign source' to the effect that the Sprocket steamers Sonoma and Ventura,. which,' for three years have kin in idleness in the upper bay at San Francisco, waiting in' vain for the. passing by Congress of the Ship .Suhiidy.. Bill, may bo shortly replaced on the. running from San Fran.' cisco to New. Zealand and Australia ■ by another meat:, namely, an agreement with tho Union Steam Ship Coinpanj to establish a new service. After refer...-' ring to Sir Mills's recent visit to San Francis'*, the 'Examiner' says:— " Tt is now proposed, according to the . story told by people close to the Sprockets interests, to rebnild the Sonoma and' Ventura, and place them on the Sydney, Auckland, and. San Francisco route, with a third steamer to be furnished by Sir . James Mills from the Union Company'! fleet, and to operate a strong lino between hero and tho colonies. Efforts would, of course, bo made to secure a subsidy, but the line, with the traffic ar-V rangement- with the Union. Steam'' Shin Company, the largest concern of its kind , in Australia, would be expected to return, a profit oven without any Government' subsidy.. " •..-••■ "'Under the plans, as reported, the • two Spreckels liners, which have been maintained in good order, will be lengthened 40ft., and supplied with oil-burn-ing'apparatus, and otherwise, brought'up... to date. The recent, test of oil as fuel in the Sierra, .sister ship of the Sonoma and Ventura, has shown a wonderful saving of money, as well as showing increased speed and generally, better operation. The Sonoma and Ventura, are each 400 ft.. in length, and their length- ' ening to the extent of 40ft. would provide them with more state-rooms, as well as more cargo space, and enable them to do a large business.'" Messrs. Spreckels and .Co., being in practically the same position as the Union Company, were (if the above paragraph 'be based on fact) contemplating extending their 'Frisbo-Papeeio servfce to Now Zealand and Sydney, and had this been done it would nave prevented any move- . ment from this side. ' As it is tlie local shipping authorities have managed .to cut in ahead, which action is almost bound to cause the abandonment of the Spreckels proposal altogether. The postal authorities in New Zealand' hold tho opinion that a mail servico to England, via San Francisco, is tho best. possiblo service, and have re- ■ peatedly insisted on the value of the service "which at present connects at Pa- . peete (Tahiti) with the Spreckels steamer Mariposa, .ind it is with no small degree of pleasure that they look forward to ' tho re-establishment of a' right-"', through service between New Zealand and San Francisco. It is also considered wiso that the boats' should make Wellington their first port "of call, as being in tho geographical centre of the Dominion the mails for both ends of. thn islands can be delivered with equal promptitude and dispatch. The subsidy will bo JC2I,GGG for 13 trips, or roughly .£12,500 a year more than is at present being paid for the Wellington-Tahiti service, hut considerably less than tho Vancouver servico was estimated to cost. It is generally regretted that better-clasa steamers than the Aorangi and Maitai aro not being placed on the run. Both of these steamers are old-fashioned, and in point of arrangement and fittings do not compare with the best of tho sfcamers new employed in the Wellington-Syd-ney or the Vancouver service. This is unfortunate as it has been point. cd out that a big tourist traffic could . bo developed from San Francisco for New Zealand, if up-to-date vessels were employed, but such old-timers as the lisri- ' posa do not impress the comfort-loving. American as attraotivo crafts for bng ocean voyages. \ Mr. ,S. Carroll, secretary of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, on .being consulted about the service, thought it was a good idea if the cost was not toe great, and welcomed tho fact (tat the inward steamers are to make Weill ntfon - the first ro rt of cnll - Thl ' s wou ' (! &"" '?' capital a fair share of tho benefits to bt derived from tho service. Nevertheless, the weekly Suez service, though slower, must still remain tho better service from tho commercial viewpoint on account c] its regularity' and the shorter interval! between tho'mails., DETAILS OF THE SERVICE. AOBANGI'S EXTENSIVE OVERHAUL (By TeloErapu.—Press Association.! Dunedin, August 27. ' Tho through running to San Francisco' will obviate ■ tho_ delays which have occurred in transhipment at Papeete. It is

vbolieved that the prospects of trade be- .-'.;' ".tween tho Dominion and tho United States .'' "are good/and that meat,wool, flax.ekins, •;■"... and a dairy produce, etc,- will find un, improving market in ;.', ; .; :,.-Tlio .steamers will be run'at; thirteen :'-' \ knots,: accomplishing, the voyago.to ~San ■;:"■'-.■ -Francisco in: twenty-one-; days'from'Auck-' ..-, ..land,, .and,, being, fixed, to connect with y .v. fast.steamers nn,tho'Atlantic, thej should .deliver/the muilsiri Londonin thirty or .'.• ''thirty^ne'days'-from New Zealand. Tho ; .present service, via..Papeete, is every '. 'thirty-six days, and this will be reduced :/<: /ito.cvcry;twenty-cight days. . ; .. The Aorarigi is at present undergoing .-;/-' an extensive overhaul at. Sydney, which ,'. : ,:«.'.estimated :.to. cost iC20,000,. and tho ','■'■., -iTaitai will also be' ; taken in hand 'at ■ ■•. ~once. Both" sllips.will:be fitted with cool -.." chambers •" for. carrying meat, dairy pro- ;.; ./duce, and fruit. .'■'*' It is intended by. the Union: Company. "-, to'.instal wireless telegraphy on thoboats, '..- ... and.it is. hoped that this- can.-.be ar/ ■:,•• Tanged before, tho :first visit .of each .. -steamer to. San Francisco.. ' .'- ■'~-. ./The service, is' to commence from Wei-. .:'.-.■-1 „ lingtori on Octobcr-19, from- Auckland on /,/ ''/October ■'22, and'-from. San .Francisco, on •November 1D... .TKe'-now., service is ;a v,"."modest extension bf. : .the present running. .VIEWS OF MR. H. C. TEWSLEY. ■;'.. // .APPROVAL OF'-THE;SERVICE.;;..,;, ..'. .-.Mr./H./C;- Tewsley, president: of tho .."'. Wellington' Chamber of Commerce, inter- , :■■' vTiewed by a Dominion reporfcer with re- . .fgard..!o the new - , service,: stated:— ;. •. ... '5 think, this is. a'step.inihe right direction. -I am of'opihion that the scheme. ': ;'. of .arrival and departure pf the steamers •'. ; ; is a-godd one!' For arrival,' it brings the: !•■'•.; wssel -to ;the. nearest point .for, distribu-J ■'/ v tibn right;'throughout..the Dominion.and ■■;/-■ also enables tourists to .travel .through . ./either tho South Island, or the North, as . .■■ they wish, and: wind;.up with the 'ther- ... . mal -.district. 1 --Of course,;, one.can.; only ..v . hope..that as the route, becomes.more ; de^ .'■■■'.- velopcd a more modern class of vessels »rill bo put on, but I tale it that they .'. are as v gpod.as'-orie could..expect for a. -.-■'. etart.'- .1/ certainly, think ;.'th« Government. ";•■'■ is'to ybo, .complimented .'on arranging a ",; , service at. such a- - moderate" cosf. fro the '■■ : ; whole Dominion. •;", I' do. not think that .-.!.-'.;, ■; any question of Auckland versus: Welling-, ... ton.need; be: imported into the matter.lt ■ is a fair; diyision, and.it also treats -with .-/.-.-fairness, the claims of-the south end of .. NewZeoland,.'espe(!ially;for..the distribh- ■..;.:: tiou of .perishable commodities—such' as ;.;-.:. .fruit from - ; the: Islands.! At . the, same '-;-.' tune it gives tourists an^^-opportunity.'of. ,'.:. visiting , beauties, of 'the-soutnerh' ■'•-• Jakes,, alps,- arid sounds,: as .well'-as^tlie ~ scenic.attractions of the .West Coast such '■.-!', as the Otira Gorge.;'. There is not the ;; .' .slightest-doubt that ; it is a great advan- ;''-. i tage to' have a"n improved connection with .'■--. /. .such'a great • country ..'as . the ' United ; . : ';'States;..and although, some people', think , :;'iwe should not doianylhing m the direc- ;■;';'-.''.. tidn-,of subsidising a' line 'of steamers t to, '•.'.' ...the United' States- that.sentiment;is not. .-.;.'•'. :.-generally'"'shared in..by.,tho'-community.' ■; : v We. want' to - attract as. many tourists as ~: ppssible,' irrespective of nationality,.'and ... >.; to' have- the,-best'transit, facilities 'between -,;' :.i.; .a ! c'ou'ntr'y':sucli -as : America .and here. Of '■"-' : '..':-coarse,'-'it is a great improvement ; on ex- :.:,;.: isting:.conditions to: ensure tliat' there ';'; ;l,'6hall be.no transhipment,at Tahiti." '•■■; / V:-' -a^ b ; CARGO; PROSPECTSr-'/ : i: : , .':ME.:.g!' : SHIRTCLIFFE INTER- .'." :■.';;•.;..;;;-;;-;;.; !;/ .viewed..'-/-- ■■.;••..". ;.;'.: ; "Speaking as : one-who-has., always ad- ,■;:-••'■ -vocatcd a' direct., connection, with. San , : ',::l:Francisco,", said Mr. Geiirge . Shirtcliffe :V : 7 when approached, by a fopresentativo ;of. V; ';' -,'The"-Do.iaih'oif.'v'r- am exceedingly pleased '■;',. .':.;withthe.arrangenierit that has been.made, ".' ■ ,and; moro; particularly that tho. service' is, ■ • -'.'going to .be'.under. thp.;British' flag arid :■'■■.-<, in of tho. Union Steam. Ship .;>,'.'.Company'.";■'Mr.'Shirtcliffii cbusidcrs the / airangemcnt,:is;: a .'satisfactory; one from ::the'standpoint'of'the. Dominion, and the. :,.,' Bubsidy seemed tii him' lo bs a reasonable . -one -for,: tho service lve".would'have. There -•; 'were.'ic.w-as sure, : -good prospects for the ■ '■.■"■'■) 'service.;se jfar • as passengers: and cargo' V-: ■' "were concerned, and,it .would lead "to. ad- ■ ', editions to .the -.tourist, traffic, as. well as .... .-■ ; being a 'convenience.;to New Zeala'nders; '■;;•'; wishing' to yisitiAmerica; ..While;in his.' opinion there'/we're' -: great. ..possibilities',' '■:'■■'■;. ..ahead of" the service,, as -regards' 'cargo, ho jxiouldnot help feeling a little disappointed ;; : :.,; :.iat, tho class- -olJ.'vcsskl which,it was pru-;":-/posed;, to '■■ put"on. He .felt/'sure,.' however,, //..'t.that.'as the/ trade .-developed, the Union '-'.;'• ■ f'iCompany would l-eplacn tho, Aorangi and :/; the Maitai with modern', "boats, .which ,';' : would.make.the voyage.in a few days less- '■-/.-. •''than'ithe.time at' present stipulated /for.' ';'. "; Jn. the; days of. the: Oceanic boats' 'there ■;. -.-. ""was a good trade in hemp with the Pacific ,'•:, -!Coast, and to'a smaller, extent in wool, ..-■ '-but' it was: more, particularly in conncc- • tion.with cargo'from America that, wo re- .-,''■■/ qiiired the 'service. : In tho past wo. had ■ foen handicapped considerably, in-not be-' : ing;.able: to get our canned fruits,.can- . Ned -salmon,. etc.,. down by'- direct - steam- -, era, and :.we conseqacntly had 'to pay a , .' • • transhipping rate, .nrhieh; had , materially ; ;' 'been detrimental to the trade. Theia were. •-.•'. the principal lines he could speak cf; but -: ■ there were, no doubt,.. other,, lines ,th at ,; : would.'coni;/ The service was starting '/- ; Tvith very, good.prospects ahend,. and.'he: ■-■■!; •-. heped'.it would do.a permanent cohncc-' ." tion, arid that.it.wpuld.be followed sooner . or later by a direct connection with Van- .,.:; xouvcr. Both- services,were wanted, but ,',./ ,as;to;whether there was: sufficient:trade ;■;'"..:' to; justify, thote'p he was not ablo.'to ex- :-' ■' .press.an opiriion-justnow. No:doubt the j ; '. .yancouver^connection would come in. due ■;'-;,,»;time,.and in the meantime wo might con- , gratulat*.ourselves on the preseiit '"pro-1 ;. ' posal. ;;/■■'; ■/- -!.-■■■..'■ ,'-,; ■'. '"-'-f MOKOIA; AS RESERVE SHIP. ' .- •It is understood that the Mokoia is being held as a,possible.substitute, for .the ; Maitai in.the new/service. The'Acraigi, .'. according to the Prime Minister, has undergone' a complete overhaul, and is ~; / classed 100 Al at Lloyd's. 1 Sir Joseph Ward, anticipates that the new-service,, .with, the refrigerating space -'available, .will be very, useful, for the. carrying of. . - perishable products, and he looks'forward . to' seeing a "considerable trade . being , ,worked, upi particularly with.-New Zea- • ■■■''-.-■ land meat ,and dairy produce in the ';, .western :portions of Arrierica.-