NEW SHIPPING SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1929, Page 1

NEW SHIPPING SERVICE

SOUTH ISLAND TO AUSTRALIA

WELLINGTON, August 25.

The Government has accepted a tender fropn the. Union Steam Ship Company for a regular steam service between Dunedin, Bluff, and Melbourne. The arrangement effected will enable the service to be provided by two steamers during the busy season of the summer months, -and by one steamer during the shorter period ol winter.

The) Prime Minister stated that there is to he a regular service between the South Island ports mentioned and Melbourne, at intervals of eiglit or ten days, during the summer while in winter the interval oetween sailings would he longer.

■'! Although the specification provided ibr the possibility of a call at Hobart, this, explained the Prime Minister, lias not been included in the contract. The contract concluded with the Union Company is for a term of two years.

The cost of reviving this important line of 1 communication, between the South Island and Australia has been fairly substantial, Sir Joseph Ward said, but it is hoped that the improved lacilities for trade and passenger traffic will cause such good development in business • that the result will justify the expenditure, and that the returns in due course will enable the cost to th© country to be diminished. '•The service is to commence at an early date, which will be announced when the detailed schedule of sailings is completed.