NEW JAPANESE LINERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 7

NEW JAPANESE LINERS.

. ' SERVICE TO NEW ZEALAND. Further particulars have now been received in Sydney regarding the decision of the board of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha to place larger steamers on the Australian service. . The new steamers will be of between 5000 and 6000 tons' net, and it is the intention of the board to extend the service to New Zealand and Adelaide. According to the Japanese files recently to hand, "a-'meeting of tho directors of the Yokohama Chamber 'of,- Commerce was held towards the", end of September, at which it was decided to make representations to the" Government for the extension of the steamer line between Japan and Australia. The Japan-Australian Line is at present maintained by the Nipjx>n Yusen Kaisha, under the State subsidy of 400,000 yen, with three liners (Yawata,. Nikko, and Kumano), of between 2000 and 3000 tons (net), the service being every four weeks. The present arrangement of the line is thought very unsatisfactory, and inadequate to keep pace with ithe! ,progfess„ , of>irade .interests between Japan- and- -Australia, which have developed'remarkably in the past few years. As the grant of a State subsidy to the line terminates next March the chamber is. anxious that tho Government will continue the subsidy on the line for another term, and at tho same' time extend the line to - New Zealand and Adelaide, making the service at least fortnightly, and having steamers of from 5000 to 6000 tons (net). The representation will be submitted to the general meeting of the chamber shortly.