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Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1925, Page 2

As the outcome of interviews and correspondence between the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Bruce) and Sir James Connolly, proposals for the establishment of a fortnightly fast mail, passenger, and chilled meat shipping service between Australia and Great Britain were submitted to the Federal Ministry in September. In return for a subsidy for 10 years of £.")2.),0f>0 a year, for which the Ministry would have tile right cl calling upon the line to carry the whole of the mails, and the endorsement by the Commonwealth of £1,000,000 of the debenture issue, which would not exceed £0,000.000, Sir James Connolly proposed to have constructed six vessels about O-tOf t. in length, and with a gross tonnage of about 20.000. capable of covering 20 knots an hour, with internal combustion engines. I hose vessels. lie indicated, would maintain a fortnightly service. At the end of live years, provided that the financial conditions were ■favourable, the service would be made a weekly one by putting on additional vessels capable of doing from 22 to 21 knots an hour. Mr Bruce announced a tew days ago that after full consideration the Cabinet had come to the conclusion that it could not adopt Sir James Connolly s proposals. The decision of the Cabinet in a large measure had been inliuencod by the fact that it was apparent that the success of the proposals embodied ill the ,scheme was entirely dependent upon the Diesel engine being suitable for ships of the larger tonnage contemplated. That bad not been demonstrated in a manner sufficiently unmistakable to warrant the large financial outlay in which the scheme would involve the Commonwealth. In the absence of such concrete evidence the venture could be regarded only as m the nature of an experiment, and as su,b was outside the province of the Ministry. “Although the Ministry has decided against the scheme.’’ added Mr Bruce, “we all recognise that the formulation of the proposals must have entailed a very considerable amount of thought and investigation by Sir James Connolly, and we are very much indebted to him for having given us the opportunity to consider such an important matter. The Ministry has express, ml its appreciation to Sir James C,m----nollv.”