THE ALL RED ROUTE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12751, 23 April 1909, Page 9

THE ALL RED ROUTE.

Mr E. J. Stephens, managing director of Alexander Stephens and Sons (Ltd.), a Glasgow shipbuilding firm, who recently went to Australia aid New Zealand^ to investigate the possibilities, of / the "All Red" route, has returned from his mission. "Tlie Union Steam Ship Company," he said in an interview, "is prepared to* establish a faster service between Victoria (8.C.), New Zealand, and Australia, if the various Governments will increase the subsidies. As the contract does not expire until Jnlv next, and as our firm bnilt the new turbine Makura, now on the CanadianAustralian run, my advice was sought by Sir James Mills. The New Zealand Government has already taken the initiative by- offering a* yearly grant of ,£IOO,OOO. After studying the peculiarities conditional to a long voyage such as that between this port and Australia, I think that cargocarrying requirements should not be entirely sacrificed to speed. The present service is one of 13* knots, and I think this is too slow, and would favour something intermediate between this and a 20knot service. In. my opinion steamships providing an 18-knot service, would meet existing -needs. It rrmst be remembered that the conditions existing on the Pacific, with its long stretches between ports, differ from thoew which obtain on the Atlantic. If a 20-knot service was inaugurated, it would restrict cargo space, and involve the carrying of large quantities of coal." "