THE COST OF HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 8

THE COST OF HOLIDAYS.

SVIIAT AUSTRALIANS SPEND

Nearly £15,000,000 last year.

JGROWTH OF STEAMER TRAFFIC.

{TROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY, Sept. 12. 'Australian holiday-makers have just finFs,hed spending more than £12,000,000 in Other countries, according to estimates that havo been made by shipping companies and tourist agencies. In addition, these globe-trotters of the Commonwealth have paid approximately £2.800.000 in return steamer fares since January last. Mho first big contingent of tourists that •went abroad for fho last summer in tho Qld Country has now returned and hundreds more arc to follow within a few ■weeks. Many of the long-distanco travellers aro returning this year by way of Canada and the United States. Tho - Australian tourist trado to Great Britain is keenly sought by tho various ahipping companies, who aro already laying their plans for the next season, which, it is thought, will ho even greater than tho last. While there has been some depression in the cargo traffic, shipping companies aro now engaged in a keen fight lor passengers to and from Australia. In every line, and in every class in every line, the, standard of accommodation 5s being rapidly improved, and there is an all-round inclination to reduce fares. It is not anticipated that thero will bo anything in tho nature of a passenger rate war, but it will come very close to this unless soino arrangement is made. Tho most interesting movement is that on tho part of all lines to provide better accommodation in tho cheaper classes; tho thirdclass is being vastly improved and there lias .already been a reduction in some fares. The P. and O. fleet of Iloyal Mail etearners is being completely reorganised. Oho line, hitherto regarded as exclusive, is extending its activities to cater for every class of passenger. Only a few years ago tho White Star liner Ceramic ,Tvas by far tho largest vessel trading to these waters. To-day there aro six 29,000 ton steamers—four Orient and two P.. and O.—regularly running between [Australia and Britain. The Comfort o! Passengers. /Tho Orient Company is bringing the Dumber of these liners to soven with the new vessel Orontes, which is duo to arrive hero on her maiden voyage in December. ,While tho first-class on this liner will comparo favourably with the appointments of tho Atlantic vessels, much attention has also been devoted to tho comfort of third-class passengers. It i 3 expected that early next year the Orontes will exceed tho Orama's record for the largest number of people to leave Australia on ono ship. Passengers Before Crew. Tho Aberdeen and Commonwealth liner (Moreton Bay, formerly belonging to the 'Government lino of steamers, will this month reach Sydney completely transformed. She has been converted into ■what is said to bo tho best one-class service in the world. Formerly the crow had to themselves the best parts of this ship, but under privato ownership this Gilbertiau state of affairs has been abolished, ami rn futuro the passengers will have preference. '' An indication of the importance of Australian passenger trade is revealed in tho fact that Captain W. If. Jackson, lato assistant-commander of tho Majestic, tho largest vessel afloat, will take command of tho Ceramic at tho end of this year, 'llio -"White Star lino has decided to victual this vessel on exactly the same scale as their Atlantic cabin steamers. In tho meantime tho foreign-owned lines aro also making a bid for passengers.