THE P. & O. COMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 635, 12 October 1909, Page 6

THE P. & O. COMPANY.

STEAMERS COMING TO NEW ZEALAND; 'FUEThSr POSSIBILITIES. ■: . The' news published in yesterday's papers to the effect that • the Peninsular and - Oriental Steam Ship Company has'decided to dispatch threo of their steamers from Auckland for London via Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, commencing _in February next, is one. which nns given..rise to.,a good deal of interesting talk m shipping and commercial circles. For somo years-past , it has been regarded as surprising that.one of the big passenger lines trading between London and Australia did .not extend; its .business just a littlo further and touch at a;New Zealand port. Tho prop- 0 : srtion-.js.atvWh b-be given-a trial the 111 fi" J f on S°l>a.'\and Morea having been actuaUy time-tabled to leave Auckland on February 16L March; 16, and April 13, and Sydney on February 23, March 23, and Apra 20 respectiycly. .According to the advertisement i-f S i e 0 cSII nt Hobart ' Melbourne, Adelaide, and_ the usual ports (meaning those usually visited by the company's steamers en to London via Suez Canal and the Mediterranean). . ' • The announcement comes rather as a surprise, and strikes .many as an interesting departure m pur maritime services, as hitherto no-steamers .trading regularly to New Zealand have proceeded. Home via the Suez Canal ■Prom what, can be .gathered the new service is van.... experiment, . made'. at the height of ouroversea'passenger-trade to England. From .February to June there is, as a rule, a comparatively heavy passenger trade between New Zealand and' London, made up of the tonnsts froin abroad who have been enjoying -themselves, during our summer, and those citizens of the Dominion who have ,the desire and means to ..breathe an.. English 6ummer, with its attendant charms.

', It is somewhat;difficult to account for Auckland being selected as the port of call in New Zealand. It is-not with any ■ parochial feeline that the point'is raised. The P. and.O. Company are coming' to ■ New Zealand to pick up Home ■ passengers, ;-and as a'matter of peographical;convehienceito.the whole of the Dominion the advantages: offered ; by Auckland . cannot with reason he compared to those of Wellington.' ' .' , . "■■■■■ : .....

•There are untold possibilities in the' new, service.;" it-has been suggested that tho latest move of the P; and 0. Company may persuade the ■ Orient Xine'df Steamers to' extend its itinerary'to': New Zealand. !At presen t (, Be Orient Lme ; pos'sesses the Commonwealth mail contract, trader; which it is pledged to'man its .ships with white-crews. It may bo that this powerful company- may not'be disposed to ignore tho extended operations of its great rival, .and it would.n6t l>e surprising to hear at any time, now of the. decision of the Orient Company to make-Wellington its terminal port.