SHIPPING AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 16

SHIPPING AFFAIRS.

LINKING UP THE EMPIRE. LONDON, September 14. The Daily Mail states that a scheme for accelerating the State-controlled steamship service, linking up the dominions and England, is being considered by the Imperial Shipping Committee. It provides for a fleet of eight fast vessels of 50,000 tons, with high power turbine engines, oil-buming, and a speed of 26 knots, for the Trans-Atlantic service, and 25 for elsewhere. Accommodation will be provided for 600 first class and 300 second class passengers. The proposed services will bring Halifax within four days of Vancouver and eight and a-half days of Liverpool, while the journey from Liverpool to Sydney, via Vancouver, will take days, and to New Zealand 19 days, a decrease of 10 days. The South African service will be fortnightly from Plymouth to Capetown, and will take 10 days. September 16. In connection with the State-controlled

steamship service, it is stated that the fleet will cost £27,000,000, which Great Britain will raise, the dominions paying 31 per cent, interest and sinking fund, and Great Britain 2£ per cent, interest and sinking fund. The annual contribution of the four dominions will be £630,0CX) and Great Britain £450.000. The Imperial Shipping Committee is reluctant to examine the details of the scheme unless at one or more of the Governments’ request. j BILL OF LADING PROPOSAL. LONDON, September 13. Mr J. M. Hunter (Agent-General for Queensland) has returned to London. He confirms Mr A. 11. Ashbolt’s (AgentGeneral for Tasmania) optimism regarding the results of the Maritime Conference, lie hoped that the new bill of lading would be introduced early in the vear. After the conference he visited Doom, but did not meet the ex-Kaiser, although Dutch authorities offered facilities. He denied that the ex-Kaiser is surrounded by barbed-wire entanglements. He apparently is unrestricted.