"ROUND TRIP"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 3

"ROUND TRIP"

IXIERCOLOXIAL SHIPPING RUN. CHANGE TALKED OF. (BY TBL£CIBAKI~*BP£CiAfi HO THE POM.) DU-NfEDltf, This Day., A change of policy in' connection with what is known as the "round trip" in connection with the intercolonial shipping run is being talked of. The socalled "round trip" is from Sydney to Melbourne, via Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Blutf, and Mobart, and back by the same route. The change will involve the splitting tip of this into two distinct sections, and a differentiation in the standard of boats to be employed in each section. It has for some time been an open secret that the trade between Melbourne and Dunedin has Hot compared favourably with that between Syd-' ney and Wellington and Lyttelton. That is, the regular vessels running between Sydney and Melbourne, via New Zealand, have obtained a preponderance of patronage, both as regards passengers and cargo, on the northern portion of the run. jfrom Dunedin on to Melbourne, and vice versa, the earning power has slackened. Acdording, to tumour, the "round trip" will be guillotiried, and fast boats put on the busy part^between Sydney and Wellington— extending pro* bably to both Lyttelton and Dunedin. Dunedin would in that case be the terminal port for the Sydney vessels. On the other hand, the run from Dunedin to Melbourne and back would be entered into by vessels merely adequate for tnu requirements of the trade. The boats running between Sydney and New Zealand would be fast and up-to-date, with improved passenger accommodation. The passenger traffic on this route being an increasing one. ,"The only question which might crop up in the contemplation of such an arrangement' (says the Star) would be 'the respective advantages of Dunedin and \ Lyttelton as a terminal port. . If the traffic from Sydney justified it, the fast Sydney boat would perhaps come as far south as Dunedin ; otherwise she might not come past Lyttelton. As a terminal port tagth for the Sydney and Melbourne steamers Dunedin would obviously figure ag of some imporance. Should a northern point be favoured, Dunedin would Jose status. The Sydney flyers would iiot come here, and all the refined cruelty of haying to deal with transhipments would be, added to the worries of the Dunedin importer."