BLUFF-MELBOURNE SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 20421, 28 February 1930, Page 7

BLUFF-MELBOURNE SERVICE

HOBART AS A PORT OF CALL OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF POSITION For some time past statements have been in circulation that by tlm repealing of certain clauses of the Federal Navigation Act, steamers on the South Island-Melbourne service could curry cargo an.l passengers between Hobart and Melbourne. In order to ascertain the exact position, the Otago Expansion League, which is one of the bodies agitating for an improved service with the Commonwealth, has made inquiries, and the following letter from the Prime Minister’s office gives the official statement of the position :

‘‘Tho Secretary, Otago Expansion League,—ln reference to your letter of the Cth ultimo regarding the inclusion of Hobart as a port of call in the New Zealand—Australia (Bluff-Mel-bourne mail service, 1 beg to inform you that the Union Steam Ship Company now states that, under authority of the Navigation Act Amendment Act. .1925, the Federal Government issued n proclamation granting permission to unlicensed British ships of not less than fourteen knots to engage in the carriage of passengers (lint not cargo) between Hobart and the Ports of Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, but this proclamation operated only from December 1, 1928, until May 31, 1929. The proclamation was renewed by the new Federal Government in December last; but on the 12th of that month it was cancelled. The present position is, therefore, that the Navigation Act is still in full force in all the States of the Commonwanltl).”—(Signed) James B. Donald (for the Prime Minister)