OFF AGAIN—ON AGAIN

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3288, 6 March 1926, Page 9

OFF AGAIN—ON AGAIN

STEAMSHIP MERGER. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Friday, 9.55 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, March 4. Mr William Roth, general manager of the Matson line, stated that no negotiations are pending or projected. The report is the idlest sort of rumour. Officials of the Oceanic company also said the company had not been approached on a deal. Another official source, that would not be quoted, said, however, that preliminaries for purchase had been entered into, although there was no indication what the conclusion would be. AUGMENTATION OF AUSTRALIAN SERVICE. (Received Friday, 7.5 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, March 4. Officials of the Matson navigation company, which operates most vessels running between San Francisco and Hawaiian ports, announce to-day that negotiations are in progress for purchase of the Oceanic Steam company, whoso three steamers ply between Australia, Pagopago, and San Francisco. The Oceanic company holds the mail subsidy from the United States Government to Hawaii. Traffic centres upon transportation of sugar, molassesi, oil, and fruit, the Matson company’s interests being identical with a large system of plantations. Tlie extension of activities to Australia whither one of the company’s principal officials Is expected to go shortly, has aroused considerable interest. and there is much speculation whether it forecasts an augmentation of the present service between the United States' Pacific coast and Australia.