WARSHIPS AS MAIL BOATS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1311, 14 December 1911, Page 5

WARSHIPS AS MAIL BOATS.

SOUTH AFRICAN PROPOSAL, lly Assoeiation-Oonyrtehl (Roc. December 13, 10.20 p.m.) London, t December 13. Tho "Daily Chronicle" states that Mr. Graaf, Minister for Works in the Union Cabinet, proposes that tho South African Government shall build a fleet of armed cruisers, costing ,£3,000,000, to be used to carry mails in peace and lent (o Great Britain in war time.

It was stated at the beginning of 'November that the, South African Union Government still adhered to its determination to build its own fleet of mail steamers if .compelled to do bo. and was making inquiries to that end amen.? shipbuilders in.England. It is estimated that a fleet of seven ships, sufficient foT tho wail' service, would not cost more than < £.7..W0,000. It is maintained that there will be no .difficulty in finding, in South Africa the money necessary for tho construction of ,t State-o\>;ned line, a voto for which would have to be parsed by tho Union.Parliament when it meets in January. Tho profits from the South African railways, which amounted to some ,£900,000 for the period April-July of this year, would, it is added, alone sfiffict' for carrying out the policy which tho Government is prepared to follow with regard lo tho establishment of a Stateowned lino. The Australian service presumably represents an extension of the project.