UNION SHIPPING COMPANY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 December 1901, Page 3

UNION SHIPPING COMPANY.

Negotiating for Vancouver Service.

Proposal to Build Three Large Steamers.

Extra Steamers for New Zealand.

[pee press association—copyright.]

Bbisbanb, December 7. Mr James Mills and wife ar« passengers by the Moans. Mr Mills states that while in England he arranged contracts for two new

steamers for the Union Company of 4,500 tonner for the inter-colonial trade and an 8,500 tonner for the New Zealand-Calcutta trade.

He hopes to soon put the Vancouver service on better lines.

The Union Company intends to make a vigorous effort to develop the Austra-lian-Canadian trade. He has arranged with the Canadian-Pacific railway to send an experienced passenger agent to Australia and will make Sydney his headquarters.

Interviewed regarding the Vancouver mail service lie sad lie had opened negotiations with the Canadian Government and would have to do the same witli the Federal Government.

If successful the Union Company would build three new 8,000 ton 1G knot steamers. Whether the line would again make Auckland or some other New Zealand port its port of call depended upon the Company securing the New Zealand and Australian mail contract.

It was, however, very probable that Fiji or Samoa would be made a coaling place. He was very favorably impressed with the prospect of the trade between Australia and Canada.

Sydney, Dec 9

The Herald commenting on Mr Mills’ interview, that Mr Mills recognising the advantage conferred through the ’Frisco service, three fast modern steamers hope to make such terms with the Canadian Government as will justify the Union Co in putting new steamers on the Vancouver line. This requires special encouragement, such as the Oceanic receives from the American Government, but New Zealand seems in a fair way to lose the direct service of both lines, as it is understood Spreckles has rejected the New Zealand Government’s mail contract. The terms Mills announces is that his decision whether to make New Zealand a port of call, depends upon securing the New Zealand-Australian contracts. The outlook in the case of both services looks rather disagreeable for Auckland.