BATTLESHIP SPEED--FOR MAILS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1135, 24 May 1911, Page 6

BATTLESHIP SPEED--FOR MAILS

TJ.S.S. CO. INTERROGATED. (By Telcjraph.-Spccial Correspondent.! Auckland, May 23. The suggestion for a faster service between Auckland and Sydney did not moot with the approval of tho managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company (Sir James Mills) when put before him a few weeks ago. Now Air. C. lloldsworth (general manager) has written to Air. Leo Myers (president of tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce) explaining more • fully the company's attitude on the subject. Air. Hohlsworth, in his letter, says that, to make the voyage from Sydney to Auckland in throe days, would require an average speed of 18 knots, and, tor this tho vessels would require to bo designed for 19 knots. The cost and running charges of such a steamer were so far in excess of prospective earnings that it could not be entertained. Under the present timetable, steamers should reach Auckland on Sunday morning. With regard to the passenger traliio from Australia to Auckland, in connection with the Exhibition, ample facilities would be afforded to cater for whatever traffic offered.

To this letter Mr. Myers has replied asking if it would be possible to get over the financial difficulty by means • of a subsidy from the Government, and suggesting that, the Union Company should "give tho chamber their ideas on this point." "The Auckland Chamber of Commerce," proceeds Mr. Myers, "has no desire that Auckland or Nov Zealand should benefit at tiie expense of your company, which wo recognise is a business concern that is managed in accordance with the highest- commercial standards. Nor does the chamber desire that the city which it represents should act selfishly in this matter. It is quite prepared to givo every consideration to any claim that AVcllington or any other New Zealand port may possess in regard to a fast Sydney connection. May I venture to ask if there is any possibility of your company replacing tho present Vancouver boats by newer vessels within the next twelve months, and putting the boats, thus made available, on to the New Zeabnd-Aus-tralinn service, oud, if so, what time these vessels would bo likely to take between Sydney and Auckland?"