S.S. NIAGARA & TRADE WITH CANADA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1746, 10 May 1913, Page 7

S.S. NIAGARA & TRADE WITH CANADA.

U.S.S, CO.'S GROWTH. LETfTER FROM HON. E. L. BORDEN. (Br Telegraph.—Press teootaUon.) Auckland, May 9. An interesting ceremony took placo on board It.M.S. Niagara thia afternoon, when it ho management of tlio Union Steam Snip Company invited iv number of citizens to inspect the siiip. Sir James Mills presided, and tiiero were also present the ±ton. X l '. M. li. Fisher and the Hon. A. L. Herdman, tho Alayor of Auckland, and Mr. \Y. A. lieddoc, Canadian Trade Commissioner. Mr. Beddoe said that, while Now Zealand and Clio Union Steam Skip Company wero advancing, Canada, too, was progressing at a rapid rate, and tlio placing of this magnificent vessel on tlio trip between Vancouver, Auckland, and Sydney was a sign of tho progress of all three countries served by tins line of steamships, It was quite obvious that a steamer such as,the .Niagara, running (he supposed) at a cost of somo tor the round .trip, would havo to carry a great deal of trade before she was made to pay, lie could say, unhesitatingly that thero . really was that trade, and more, to be coped with between t]io countries.'. That trade, and indeed any trade, was induced by two primary conditions: AVorkablo and fair tariffs, and adequate ; transport facilities. Mr. Beddoo then read the following letter from the Hon, It. L. Bordon (Canadian Prime Minister), which, he said, Mr. Borden had asked him to read in Auckland if any function were held on the Niagara's visit. . .. ; Mr. .W. A. Beddoe, .Canadian Trado Commissioner, Auckland, New Zealand. Sir,— . I beg to acknowledge your letter informing me that the Royal wail steamer- Niagara ■ will commence her maiden voyage from New Zealand to Vancouver early in May. In August last I had the pleasure of bebg proBent at the launching of this fino ship, which will give a splendid service between the Dominion of New Zealand and our Pacific Coast. The cable and steamship lines across the Pacific and Atlantic may be termed the nerves and arteries of the Empire without which it cannot exist or develop. We congratulate both Now Zealand and Canada upon the inauguration of this splendid service, and tiust that it may bring continually increased advantage to both countries in the commerce and intercourse, which it will promote. On behalf of the. Canadian people, my. colleagues and I send warmest greetings to our kinsmen, and fellow-oitizen's of tho Dominion of New Zealand. distant from us, as miles aro measured, but closely united to us by all ties that bind together the nations of the Empire. Yours faithfully, li. L. BORDEN. Tho letter was read amidst loud applause, and Mr, Beddoe concluded by 6nyipg that tho Niagara would be a help in the good relations, between the largest and smallest of the British Dominions. In replying, Sir James Mills referred to the growth of tho Caiiadian-Autralasinn' service/ Ho said, that it was 20 years almost to a month since the service had Tieen : inaugurated,- but such great difficulties had been met with that it was not till the -Union Company had looked into .the possibilities of it in' 1901 that it had begun to niako miy headway. Sinos'. then,'■ however, it had steadily grown, and better vessels had been utilised. He would liko to point out that the ogst of such vessels on the round trip was no small matter. For instance, sijoh vessels as the Marama and Makura were expected tohamllo".£20",000 to .£25,000 worth of trado per trip before they became payid# ,iproposi tions, and it was estimated-that the Niagara-would ;have to earn 000 to .£-10,000 per trip to rejjay tjje capital- which had been expended' on her. voir'James. Mills went on to refer to tho. rapid-expansion -of the Union. SteanT.Ship Company's fleet within tho last ten years'.- In 1903, he said, tho company had's2 vessels, with a total tonnage of 90,000. Now they had over 70 vessels;'with a' total tonnage of 200,000 tons, ' inuring- tho same period the average size of tho company's vessels had increased from 1500 tons to 0000 tons. In 1903 their- largest steamer .was the Aparlma, of ,5700 tons, but now they had tho Niagara; of 13,500 tons. Similarly, tho ojnpioyees in servico had grown in numbers—in ten yc(irs from' 2000 to 3500.