OCEAN MAIL SERVICES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2736, 22 August 1906, Page 16

OCEAN MAIL SERVICES.

ORIENT COMPANY'S POSITION. (F*OX OU*. OW COKUgnUTDKBTj AUCKLAND, August 6. Mr Anderson, the Sydney manager for the Orient Company, which recently lost the Federal mail contract, when asked what his company intended doing said : — " It has all come- upon us so suddenly that we have scarcely had time t& loofe around, but we are* now considering oar position. We have lost the mail contract, and some shipping people whose identity is not yet fully known have secured it. That is really all there is- to be said at present." "You have probably noticed," suggested the interviewer, "the speculation concerning the probability of New Zealand contracting for the Australian line to extend here. Do you think your fleet could be made capable of undertaking, it?" 1 "We had decided to build several new ships of 12,000 tons, and that would have considerably improved* it." Ara those ships in the builders' hands? " No. We were awaiting the result of the mail contract." Having tost that,, what changes in your running appear probable? "I cannot tell you," was the reply; " but there are still 18 months before the present contract expires." Would, you entertain a New Zealand mail contract? I "If your Goverenment invited us we should- Be only too pleased to negotiate." A prominent shipping, man in Sydney, on being interviewed concerning the possible ohanges that might result, said that apparently a certain group of shipbuilders hal contracted to supply a mail service, and I should say that every local firm has already- cabled offering to represent the new company in Australia. I know several firms have done so. The entire absence of < information as to any established company being connected and the recent cable re- - speeting the contemplated rate of cutting indicates that the trade at present regard it as some entirely new line of steamers, ' and they ate joining bands- to fight it. Naturally the arrival of the complete new fleet will considerably disturb shipping interests. The whole thing; however, is clouded in obscurity; and even some of the local firm* have received eabl-es from London asking for information." What do you think of the new fleet's prospect of success-? ""It is doubtful if their greater speed will be sufficient to entice patronage from the older companies:" What future do you imagine awaits theOrfent fle«tf " They are too slow for the Neir Zealand mail service via Australia, are unauited for cargo service-, and are «Ire«dy outcfaesed on the other New Zealand route*. I doubt whether your "Government would give the I subsidy required to warrant tho improvements necessary, and I doubt whether the Orient Company is- in tuch » position a* ito expect to be invited to negotiate-. I take it that the reason the company has lost the Federal mail contract is that its service is behind the time*, for there is no comparing i» witb the P. and O. Company. I don't think Xew Zealand wants any lam« ducks. Ton want either the P. and O. Company or the new oompeny. The whole : trcde- to Australia haw outgrown, the bulk of the Orient /feet; through the company failing to (recognise the 1 movement of Che t times, a* other Men recognised it. the netfeatfity of replacing obsolete vessels. Even the Canadian line, in adding the new turbine steamer Itfaheno, recognised it, and' the P. Mid O. Company, though constantly declaring that it doesn't {Jay, has found it the- best policy in the end.' Do you know if any of the Australian companies contemplate extending their operations to New Zealand, waa uked. "I know that when the la-te Mr Beddon war there h« wrote to the several companies — namely, the Orient, P. and 0., German, and Meaaageries, inviting them, to extend their services to New Zealand. I dort't think those overtures were very cordially responded toy md I believe I am correct in saying thai the Orient Company declined to entertain them." "Did any company reply favourably? " I understand that none did. The suggestion was not received with er.thu eiasm, although I know that Mr was very keen on it. He feit it was in the interest of' his country to have e.n Aus--tration mail line of steamer 3 extended to .New Zealand, believing- that the avoidance of transhipping from the big xt^amere j would give a powerful fillip to the tourist 1 traffic by inducing visitors- to continue on to Now Zealand inrtead- of stopping short; at Australia. In thn general' scramble tra* 18 coming yon may be nure that e.v«ry ship- 1 ping company hopes to l>e the lucky' on* if , there's anything good to be got."