SOUTHERN SHIP ROUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 13

SOUTHERN SHIP ROUTE.

CARGO FROM MELBOURNE. DISAPPOINTINGLY SMALL. LOSS ENTAILED BY SERVICE. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] DUNEDIN, Tuesday. According to the Union Steam Ship Company, the quantity of cargo brought from Melbourne by the Maheno since sho entered the trade has been disappointingly small. On the present trip she had a total of only 652 tons for the four ports of call in New Zealand, while on the trips leaving Melbourne on December 17 and January 8, she had only 320 tons and 837 tons respectively. For the last two trips the respective quantities for the three South Island ports were:—Bluff, 93 and 40 tons; Dunedin, 311 and 162 tons; Lyttelton. 212 and 103 tons.

The vessel has a capacity for carrying approximately 2500 tons, and ifc must be evident, states the company, that in the absence of sufficient cargo, of which there seems little prospect, a passenger service such as she provides cannot be performed except at a heavy loss, even taking into account the subsidy paid By the Government.

In reply to the above statement by the company, a prominent business man stated to-day that had there been regular and more frequent services between Melbourne and South Island ports, consignees would have notified their correspondents abroad to have cargo transhipped to Melbourne. Owing to the lack of connection cargo had been carried on to Sydney and transhipped via Wellington for South Island ports. When a proper service was offered via Melbourne and South Island ports importers here would undoubtedly give every assistance they could to the service, and the trade should steadily grow. In regard to the number of passengers travelling by the service, he stated that visitors from South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania would doubtless appreciate an improved service for visiting the South Island via Bluff and Dunedin. This route was not only equally as pleasant as the northern route via Sydney, but was also less expensive. A person at Melbourne wishing to visit Dunedin, unless it was convenient for him to delay his departure for possibly three weeks to join the Maheno, was obliged to go overland to Sydney. This entailed an expense oi £5 for railway fare, plus the ferry fare from Wellington to Lyttelton, and rail to Dunedin If the Union Company would feature the West Coast sounds by calling there, he was sure that the Melbourne-Bluff route would become very popular. This was proved on the present trip when, as a result of a request to the captain to take the boat to Milford Sound, a charge of £IOO was asked and collected from t! " passengers for the privilege of seeing the . beauties of that part of Otago. REPLACING THE MANUKA. PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH". OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, announces that he has been in communication with the general _ manager of the Union Steam Ship Company regarding a steamer to take the place of the Manuka, which waa wrecked recently on the Bluff-Melbourne service, and that the general manager has advised that he is in cable communication and doing all in its power to procure a suitable steamer for the service.