FARES TO ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2238, 26 August 1914, Page 4

FARES TO ENGLAND

• " RISE OF 25 PER CENT. With the partial dislocation of tie New Zealand-London' direct 6tcamsliip Bervjce, consequent upon several of the steamer's having been secured by .the CSovernment as. troopships—-notably the Ruapehu, Athenic, and Arawa—the time-tables of the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Companies have been affected to some extent. Owing to the Ruapehu having been chartered by tho Government there is no Augusfcsteamer for London direct, and the taking over of 'the Arawa and Athenic will make the Corinthic tho first of the Shaw, Savill steamers to leave these shores siiice the outbreak of the war, and that vessel is not time-tabled to. leave .Welling* ton for tho Thames until October. ■The steamship.companies'are doubtless feeling the financial pinch caused by such aswiftahd'entirely-'uriespccted change in the itinerary of their fleets. Commencing with the Remuera (which sails, on September 24) the fares and freights will be raised all round. The companies have, it is understood; already agreed to raise the.fares between New Zealand and London 25 per cent., ivbich is the biggest, jump ever made in steamer fares in those parts for deep-, sea voyages. There is usually a certain range of accommodation in the different classes on board, generally _ according to tho number of berths in a; cabin. .For instance, the saloon singla faro by either of the lines mentioned is £64 and £74, the second saloon,' £38 and £43; and the third, £19 (open\ berth), £21 (four berth), aud £23 (two bert!h), but for the purposes of comparing wha't the fares have been, and what they are now, the lowest price in eacb case only is quoted, as follow:—

Old New ' ' fare. fare. -e £ s. First saloon (single) ...' 64. 80 First saloon (return) ... 115 144, Second saloon (single)?.. 38 • '47,10 Second saloon (return) 66 .82 10 Steerago single) 19 15 Steerage (return) 34 42 10 .The freights are also to be advanced during the present month, but from inquiries mado wo elicit the information that the new scale ha6_nbt- vet been completed. As no beat loaves Now Zealand until well on in September it ia assumed that the steamship companies concerned will make their intentions known as early as possible.