THE ALL-RED ROUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7399, 29 March 1911, Page 7

THE ALL-RED ROUTE

FASTER STEAMERS ACROSS TWO OCEANS. CANADIAN BILL. EBOM OUK SPECIAL COmtESPONnENXLONDON, February 17. A revival of interest in the All Red Route question is promised during the coming year. . ■ . . It will be debated in the Imperial Conference, for Sir Joseph Ward has announced lib intention of bringing forward a motion to the effect that it is desirable in {the interests of the Empire that Groat Britain should be connected path Canada, and through Canada wink Australia, by the best mail service available. Another reason for anticipating a revival. of interest is that a Bill to incorporate a proposed steamship company is' now before nuo Canadian -Parliament. A- in Unix,:- of well-known names of hums and individuals of, standing in this country and in Canada aro given as desiring to be incorporated under the name of the Imperial Btoamsliip Company.', As regards the objects of the company one clause of,the Bill, provides that:— The company may purchase, oiwn, charter, lease and operate steamers and other vessels between Canadian ports and all parts of the British Empire and foreign countries. The company may also lease, 1 purchase, construct, and work docks, piers, wharves, dockyards, warehouses, elevators, hotels, and other buildings ' ami works in connection with its enterprise, and may build branch lines of railway on its properties, and .to connect same with other lines-of railway, provided none of the branch lines exceed six miles in length. Another clause is to the effect that: — In constructing . and . operating said branch lines of railway the company will be subject to the conditions of the Railway Act, and, subject to the conditions of said Act, the company may expropriate property required in connection with the construction of its docks, piers;' wharves, and other works. DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. ■' The proposals of the’syndicate, says the ’‘Times,” provide for the establishment of an express service between Halifax (Nova Scotia) 'and Blacksod. Bay (on the west coast of Ireland) of vessels capable of crossing the Atlantic at an average speed of at least twenty-five knots an hour, the establishment of train ferries between , the east coast of Ireland and the west coast of- Scotland and England; the construction of a railway eighty miles in length to connect Blacksod Bay .with the existing .railways in Ireland (a Contract lias already been awarded for the construction of . this line and the necessary dock accommodation in Blaokeod Bay); the establishment of a sea-vice of first-class Steamships having a speed of eighteen knots per hour between Vancouver (British. Columbia), Honolulu, Suva, Auckland, and Sydney. . Apart from the Canadian Pacific Railway now running from the Atlantic to' the Pacific across Canada, two other Transcontinental lines are being constructed—the Grand Trunk Pacino and the Canadian Northern, and both these lines will be completed .in time to make part of the through service. Passengers will thus have the choice of throe linos for crossing the Continent. An important part of the scheme ■' is the provision that there should be through connecting service between London, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. FINANCE.' There are twelve clauses in the Bill ■ now before the Canadian Parliament. One provides that for the purpose of incorporation the capital stock shall he one million dollars, but that the capital may bo increased from time to time with the approval . of the majority of the shareholders of the' company. Another provides that the company may issue debenture stock, debenture bonds, or other securities. Obviously such a scheme as has been planned would eventually require , a very large amount of capital, , but the promoters claim that they have already arranged for the whole amount necessary—i.e., about .£5,000,000 —provided that an adequate mail subvention is given for 'a reasonable time by the Governments interested. The amount of the-total mail subventions required, is eetamated at about .£700,000 to be contributed by the different Governments in equitable proportions. The capital, it is estimated, would provide for. the construction : of three fast liners of 20,000 tons for the Atlantic service and five steamers of 10,000 tons for the Pacific route. '