THIS ALL-RED ROUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13959, 19 July 1907, Page 5

THIS ALL-RED ROUTE

INQUIRY STILL PROCEEDING.

Press Association—By Tcleeraph—Copyright. LONDON,. July 18. (Received July 18,« at 11.19 p.m.) Ml' Lloyd-George (President of the Board of Trade) states tlia* tliero is no foundation for the reported abandonment of the all-red route. He says that the Canadian, evidence regarding the question is still unfinished, and that 110 Australian or New Zealand testimony line yet been heard. Since the inquiry is not nearly concluded the committee has not considered its ultimate decision.

A cable was received in Australia on July 4 by tli© Prime Minister from Captain Collins, Commonwealth reprevsenlativo in London, statin# that ho attended a conference at tho Colonial Office, convened by Ml' Lloyd-George, President of the Board of Trade, to discus? a proposal for a weekly 24-knot subsidised mail service by an " allrod " route across tho Atlantic to Canada, and thenco to New Zealand and Australia. It was stated in the cable that the branch service across tho Atlantic would involve a subsidv of £420.000 a year, which Sir Wilfrid Laurier suggested should be paid half by Great Britain and half bv Canada. Captain Collins added that, the two Governments concerned were taking time to consider the matter, in view of tho heavy expenditure involved. With regard to the branch across the Pacific from Canada, to Now Zealand and Australia. Captain Collins slated that a subsidy of £400.000 a year would ])0 required. This aspect of the matter was hemp; referred to the Governments roncerncd. H will be noticed (says the Sydney Dailv Teletrranb) that the pavilion t of these two subsidies would mean £820.000 a year, and if Hi is amount doc'i not include the cost, of carrying the mails on tho railway across Canada the total expenditure would reach close on a million.