EASTERN TRADE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 29 December 1923, Page 12

EASTERN TRADE.

STEAMER SERVICE DIRECT TO JAVA.

The possibilities of a direct steamship service between Javanese ports and New Zealand has received the attention of the Uoyai Packet Navigation Company, a Dutch steamship enterprise whose managing director, Mr. C Van der Lame, arrived from Australia by the tlimaroa a few days a c o Mr Linde. who has travelled irom xmtavia via Sydney, will spend a^out three weexs in the Dominion, during which time he will make full investigations in Auckland. Wellington, Chnstchurch, l>yttelton, Dunedin, and Bluff. New Zealand already uses a good deal of Eastern produce, such as tapioca tea coftee. and nemo, which at present is transhipped at Sydney. The task before Mr. Linde is to inquire whether the prospects in regard to both inward and outward merchandise are suSi as would warrant the institution of a direct service, thereby cheapening freight and accelerating delivery. At present ,th e company has a monthly service between Java and Australasia, in which 5000-ton steamers are employed. "I cannot say anything definite about the project now," said Mr Linde. "I am simply here to find out the position of affairs." Mr Linde added that it was possible the company might entertain the idea of a monthly service of passenger and cargo vessels if trade warranted it