U.S.S. CO.'S NEW MOVE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1780, 19 June 1913, Page 4

U.S.S. CO.'S NEW MOVE.

WHY GRANGE BOATS WERE BOUGHT It was announced in 'yesterday's Dominion that tho Union Co. were making preparations for entering; moro vessels in tho Australian-New Zealand-Pacific Slops trade. From advises to hand it appears that something definite has now boon done in tho matter. Ever sinco the purchase of tho old "Grange" fleet by tho Union S.S. Company, Ltd., from tho Now Zealand Shipping Company, which had a few months previously acquired, tho vessels from tho Houlder Line, was announced, considerable speculation has been indulged in as to what trade tho latest owners intended to employ them in. Inquiries at tho ofl'iees of the "Red Funnel Line" elicited tho answer that "for the timo being they will rum as hitherto under tho aegis of tho P. and S. Line," but beyond that nothing further could be gathered. It liow appeaiv that tho Union Company intends, at no distant date, to withdraw them from tho present business and placo them in the service as extra steamers to the Pacific Slope, in order to meet increasing trado requirements in frozen, produce, for t'ho carnage of which tho Limerick, Roscommon, Tyrone, and Westme&th are most admirably suited. This decision will perhaps occasion little surprise, for nianj have predicted such a courso would bo decided on kmg ago, as it lias been tho desire on tho Pacific Slopo to reduce tho present high prices of butter and meats by the importation of lines from Australia. Rcoently the head of Schweiter and Co., of San Francisco, visited the Commonwealth, and, it is said, practically concluded all arrangements before he left by tho R.M.S. Tahiti on liis return to California, for a great amount of tho refrigerator space on tho steamers now in commission, and has also guaranteed largo orders sufficient to test tie refrigerating capacity of tho other vessels whew, they aro ranning. Another factor that has no doubt influenced the Union Company in arriving at the docisioii is that tho trado in general merchandise is expanding, as may bo gathered from the fact that extra steamers have been occasionally necessary on tho berth for Australia. As far as can be learned at present, no definite dato has been sottled upon for the Limerick, Tyrone, Rosoommon, and Westmcath to take up their now running, or if they will be the only vessels employed ui the augmented service.