AMERICAN SHIPS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 140, 28 May 1928, Page 5

AMERICAN SHIPS

OCEAN MAIL ROUTES AS AFFECTING ANTIPODES. ’FRISCO-SYDNEY MONTHLY SERVICE. [United Preen Ajsn.-By CableCopyright.) [Australian end N.Z. Preu Aitn.J (Received 28. 9.5 a.m.) Washington, May 26. Action under, the provisions of the new Jones-White Merchant Marine Act has been taken by the Post-master-General who has sent a communication to the Shipping Board certifying the seven ocean mail routes which should be established or operated for carrying mails as contemplated by the Act. These routes are already under contract but he now desires that they be included under the provisions of the new measure. One of the routes is San Francisco to Sydney with monthly sailings an annual mail poundage of 2,217,859, and an estimated five-year volume poundage of 12,198,224. It is unknown whether the Post Office contemplates any change of the line carrying Australian mail when the present contract ends. EFYECT OF AMERICAN PROPOSAL. The Bill increases to 250,000,000 dollars the present 125,000,000 dollars construction load fund to private shipbuilders, and provides that money from the fund may be lent to 75 per cent of the value of the ships to be built. The Bill also increases the present rates for contract mail carrying and provides that United States Shipping Board vessels may be sold to private interests onlv bv the vote of five of the seven members.