THE RIVAL CANALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15175, 14 December 1912, Page 5

THE RIVAL CANALS.

SUEZ "CHARGES CHEAPENED.

With the near approach of the opening of tho Panama Canal route, tho directors of tlie Suez Canal Company have decided to make a reduction in the Suez Canal transit dues by 50 centimes per ton from January 1 next. The dues will thus bo reduced 6 francs 25 centimes per ton for loaded ships, and 3 francs 75 centimes per ton for ships in ballast. In tho new basis a 10,000 ton ship passing through the Suez Canal in ballast would have to pay approximately £1562. By the Panama route, the due for which is approximately 5s per ton, tho charges for the same ship would amount to £2500, a difference of £938 in favour of the Suez route. Tho reduction in the Suez rates is, therefore, likely to have a very considerable effect on the traffic through tho American Canal.

Discussing the matter yesterday, Mr. C. V. Houghton, the local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company stated the opening of the Panama Canal would make apparently no difference in the length of a voyage from New Zealand to England". Though a casual glance at a map inado the now route appear the shorter, it was only so to a very small degree. When the curve of the earth's surface, was taken into consideration, and it was at its greatest near Panama, the extra distance entailed almost amounted to that of the lower, and seemingly longer voyages around Capo Horn. From Cape Palliser in New Zealand to England, via the Canal, the voyage would be approximately 11.143 miles, and by Cape Horn 11,636 miles. The difference was therefore very slight, and of no count at all when Hie extra, cost of passing through the Canal was taken into consideration. ,