COMMONWEALTH SHIP PURCHASE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH SHIP PURCHASE

VARIOUS OPINIONS

FUTURE MAIL CARRIERS

DROP IN FREIGHT MARKET

By Telegraph-Press AssociaUon-Copyrieht

Sydney, June 29. Federal politicians are gratified at Mr. Hughes's purchase of ships, and anticipate that with the vessels already (tvailable it will solve the problem of marketing the wheat crop. It is also .hoped that before long they will be used tor mail carriage, which now costs the Commonwealth .2170,000 yearly. ' The mails would then, be conveyed in Govern-ment-owned ships. Ministers are confidont that despite the high prices paid for the vessels they will return, a handsome profit. Shipping circles are inclined to consider the purchase as a dubious bargaiD. Discussing the deal, the' President of the Chamber of Commerce said that by a very generous computation, the steam-, ers will be able to lift 85,000 tons of wheat. If the ships are ready to leave England at once they would reach here in the iniddlo of September, apd if they sailed for England at the end of Sep"; tember they could not'return to Austra. Ha before the end of January. This would not make much of an impression on a harvest of two million tons. He was of the opinion that the Government's best move would halve been, to Have increased the freights so as to attract shipping to Australia. Private cable advices indicate a deelded drop in the freight market. APPROVAL IN QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, June 29. Tho Acting Chief Secretary, ■ in expressing approval of the shipping deal, referred to tho difficulty in finding space for Imperial meat. He said that there were largo supplies of meat in New Zealand, and an agitation had arisen to divert ships from here. Happily, Mr. Ryan, being in England, was able to obviate this. Had the ships been divert. Ed, tho meat works would have been compelled to close down until tonnage was available. A SURPRISE FACKET. London, June 28. Tho "Manchester Guardian" savs that ns Australian shipping is freo from most of the taxes imposed on British lines, Mr. Hughes's investment promises to be very successful, and wilL rouse envy among the English shipping competitors. He supervised the deal personally, and it was so quietly done that it came as a complete surprise in the city. NEW /MONTHLY PACIFIC SERVICE. Sydney, June 29. The latest English files state that Houldor Bros, have decided to run a monthly sorvioe with modern steamers between San Prancisco, New Zealand, and Australia.