HAILS TO AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18534, 19 October 1923, Page 7

HAILS TO AUSTRALIA.

WEEK'S SAVING PLANNED.

CO-OPERATION OF AIRSHIPS. SERVICE TO EGYPT, • By Telegraph Association— ' (Received 10.30 p.m.) Reuter. ; LONDON. Oct. 17. In a statement at tho Economic Conference to-day regarding the work of the Imperial Shipping Committee. Sir H. J. Mackinder, chairman of the Imperial Shipping Committee, anticipated an early development in a scheme of combined air, sea and land communications that would shorten the journey to Australia by a week.

Sir H. J. Mackinder said that four days of the Australian voyage could be saved by an airship service to Egypt, two days on the Indian ocean by speeding up steamships, a day at Frernantlo, and a little on the Australian trans-continental journey. This was a better scheme than paying a subsidy for a special service of steamers, in the opinion of the Imperial Shipping Committee.

The speaker detailed the methods whereby the Imperial Shipping Committee persuaded the Commonwealth Government and Conference lines to abandon their quarrel. He had received a joint letter from Sir Kenneth Anderson and Mr. Eva, stating that the option system of rebate or agreement was working satisfactorily. Over 800 firms had signed the agreement, which was being amended to meet tho wishes of tho Merchants' Association.

Sir H. J. Mackinder hoped that Mr. Bruce and Mr. Masscy would meet representatives of the Chamber of Shipping to discuss tho question of light dues, port charges and pilotage and quarantine expenses. Very small profits were being made by the British shipping to-day, so that the question of levying inconio tax on shipping throughout the Empiro was important. The Imperial Shipping Committee was also drafting its conclusions upon methods of assessment, which it hoped that the Dominion Prime Ministers would consider.