NEW LINERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13872, 5 October 1908, Page 6

NEW LINERS.

OCEAN TRACK DEFINED. [FROM OUR OWN COKRESI'OKDEXT.] London, August 28. Foe many years the ; Shaw, . Savill, and Albion Company and the White Star Company . have had an ocean-track to which their commanders have been instructed to adhere from the Cape of Good Hope, to New Zealand, and from New Zealand round Cape Horn. At the time this track was started the New Zealand Shipping Company and others were asked to join, but they preferred a more southerly route as saving distance they had, in fact, a track of their own. Lately it was suggested more than this should be done and that an absolutely uniform ''lane'' right round the world from London to London should be traversed, and so include the North and South Atlantic as well as the South Pacific and Southern Oceans. In this the New Zealand Shipping Company has joined, so that now the ships of the three lines mentioned will follow identical courses both to New Zealand and from it. The advantages of this, of course, are obvious. The more northerly route which will be followed south of the Cape and of Cape Horn will give greater freedom from cold and ice, though . the distance will be slightly increased. There is also the supreme advantage that if there is any breakdown or mishap of any description, a following steamer will always be able to pick up a "lame duck," or boats which would wait at a certain spot in the full knowledge that help was coming. It is hoped that other companies will join in the agreement, and so increase the opportunities of lending assistance. Commanders have been given instructions not to go near land or ice.