NORDDEUTSCHER-LLOYD CO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8739, 22 May 1914, Page 5

NORDDEUTSCHER-LLOYD CO.

GRANT FOR AUSTRALIAN SERVICE. B/ TeJ«fraph—Prew Association —Copyrlßb* LONDON, May_ 20. According to the “Shipbuilding and Shipping Record” at the Kaiser’s instance Herr von Bethmann-Hollwog, the Chancellor, secured a promise from leading members of the lleichstag to grant half a million to the Nord-deutscher-Lloyd Company’s Australian service. The company proposes to extend the service to Now Zealand, and is arranging with a New Zealand steamship company for a joint fortnightly service, GERMAN CONSUL INTERVIEWED. Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 21. No advice regarding the proposed extension of the Nordeutscber-Lloyd Australian service to New Zealand, as reported to-day by cablegram, has yet reached the German Consul (Mr Carl Seegner), but he stated this evening that he would not bo surprised to learn that the proposed extension had been undertaken. Mr Seegner stated that he has consistently urged upon the Imperial German authorities and the shipping companies, during the past twcnty-fiv*. years, that a direct service should be established between Gerpiany and New Zealand. Already Germany’s trade with the Dominion greatly exceeds the total volume of all other Continental countries, and Mr Seegner is confident that direct steamer communication would be the means of its development to double and treble the present volume within a very few years.

With regard to the above cable message, it seems probable, according to local shipping authorities, that the Company has entered into some arrangement with the Deutsch-Anstralische Dampschiffs Gesellschaft by which a ioint service will be maintained. The latter company's steamer Linden is already en route to New Zealand with a load of superpuosphates. As a result of this innovation the rates on superphosphates from the United Kingdom by the direct British steamers have been lowered. It has not yet been disclosed whether the German steamers will take cargo from New Zealand.