COMMENWEALTH SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18225, 19 October 1922, Page 5

COMMENWEALTH SHIPS.

FIFTEEN LAID UP. - Owing to. the- slackness of trade which ia being experienced by the Commonwealth Government Itne of st-eamers, onethird of the fleet of 45 steamers is idle ia Australian porta. The best that con he hopixi for by the management of the line is that the idle streamers will be used in shipping the j next season's wheat harvest and for wool shipments. Some of those affected are ex-enemy ships, which, under Australian articles ami present rales of freight, are not profitable. Others belong to the " Austral " class of ."steamers, and were included in the first purchase by Mr. 1 Hughes when in England in 1916." They | originally cost. £40,000 each, to build, and j the price paid by the Commonwealth j Government averaged about £130,001} or ; £140,000 each. At the time of purchase j this price was not considered excessive, j snd since then the vessels have earned j abnormal profits owing to war conditions. They are not, however, first-class steamers, and it is stated that a recommendation was placed before the Prim® Minister tliat the vessels bo sold at a tiroo when the line could have cleared a good price. This, however, was not dono. At the present tirna. English ship-brokers | have similar steamers for sale at from 50s j to £3 per ton. In addition to the vessels of the line which are at present idle in Sydney and Melbourne, thera arft severaj temporarily unemployed, waiting to take loading berths on regular cargo services conducted j bv the line. Two steamers are still under j construction iff Sydney and Adelaide. j The idle vessels, with their respective j tonnages and the dates from which they have been idle, are as follow In. Sydney Harbour: Australgien, 4506 ; tcms, September 7; Australmead. 4151 tons, September 17; Australmount, 4333 : tons' Julv 24; Delungra, 5346 tons, September 20; Dundula, Z309 tons, October ll' Eromanga, 3359 tons. September 4; Enoffgera, 3359 tons, July 10: Talawa. 3834 tons, October 4: Toromco, 4149 tons, September 30; and Dromana, 3305 tons, t0 Melbourne: Araluen, 5513 tons, December 1. (1921); Australplain, 4454 tons, September 16: 4326 *.ons, September 27; Australport. 3687 tons, September 2; and Gilgai, 5512 tons, October 7.