NEW JAPANESE SERVICE

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 22, 19 March 1918, Page 8

NEW JAPANESE SERVICE

EXTENDS TO NEW ZEALAND.

Messrs Cardale and Scott, agents for the Osaka Shoson Kaisha Jap. Steamship Company, intend shortly to establish a monthly steamship service from Australia and Now Zealand to Manila and Japan. It appears that Mr K. Kamiya, general manager of the branch of Formosa, who was entrusted with the pioneering work in connection with the opening up of the cargo service of Australia and New Zealand, and who visited Australia about 18 months ago, is now on an extensive trip to Malay Peninsula, Java, Siam and India, making all the necessary arrangements preparatory to the opening of the new lines. For service on the new lines now under contemplation the Osaka Shosen Kaisha is building about 30 ships, aggregating 300,000 tons dead weight most of which arc now under construction in tho Osaka ironworks. The opening of these new will probably have the effect of providing better facilities for trade between India, the East, Australia and New Zealand, and the ultimate connecting up of these Australian and Eastern lines with the service to the United Kingdom will, it is expected, eventually bo accomplished. Tho possibility of Australian importers being provided with facilities for shipment of cargo from Indian ports to Australia is at the present time somewhat important, in view of tho fact that only quite recently two steamers which had loaded goods for Australian ports not only were discharged and withdrawn for other services, but tho third vessel engaged in tho trade was also withdrawn.

It is interesting to note that the total number of vessels in the present fleet of tho Osaka Shosen Kaisha, together with vessels under construction, is 180, amongst which are six vessels of 10,000 tons and six vessels of 8000 tons. It is anticipated that the existing monthly cargo service between Australia, Manila and Japan will be enlarged and improved by the substitution of newer and faster vessels of greater carrying capacity, and with the linking up of the Japan-Australia service with the Pacific triangular service will no doubt shortly be accomplished. The net profit of tho last financial halfyear’s operations of the O.S.K. was £1,000,000.