CANADA’S TIMBER TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1929, Page 7

CANADA’S TIMBER TRADE

STEAMSHIP LINE SUBSIDY

OPERATIVE AT' ONCE

VANCOUVER., Aug. 2

That Canada's lumber trade with the Antipodes will be quadrupled in the near future is the declaration of local timber experts as a resuit ot the .Demin.on government having concluded an agreement with the Australian-Uritish Columbia Shipping Company whereby tne Oovernment wdl pay a sudsiby of i t (JO dollars per voyage and 1/2,40 j dollars annually for a first-class service between the Pacific Coast and Australia.

hour years ago the Canadian Government Merchant Marine had a direct service from Vancouver to the Antipodes When this whs withdrawn, the amount of Canadian lumber imported by Australia and New Zealand decreased from 40 per cent of the total import to 13 per cent.

The new subsidised line is bound by contract to make 12 sailings per year, each ship to be capable of carrying 4,000,00 ft of lumber, 10 per cent more or less! This will bring the total lumber movements of the line to nearly oo,oco,oooft.

At present Australia and New Zealand combine to import approximately 15,000,000 feet. If this remains stationary, the Australian-British Columbia Line will bring the mark to 65,000,OjU.

Ihe new line will be operated as a subsidiary of the H. It. McMillan exporting and shipping interests, and will lie handled through the Canadian Transport Company. Mr H. A. Stevenson, manager of the latter, states mat the service will probably be started in August with the freighter Bronnoy, now engaged in Oriental traffic from this port. It is planned to continue with ships of British registry under time charter. This is due to the limitation of the subsidy to three years.

Local importers are also looking forward to an increase in Australian exports to Britisn Columbia. These could be handled on the return voyage* of the lumber vessels.

Previous to the entry of the Australian British Columbia Line into the field, there were live direct lines running out of the port of Vancouver to Australia and New Zealand. These are the Canadian-Australian Line, TransAtlantic Steam Ship Company, Ltd., Oceanic and Oriental Navigation Com■pany. The latter will withdraw from the field when the new line starts, it is understood. In the past it has maintained only an occasional service when a full cargo offered. As parcel snace will now he available at all times, the necessity for retention of the old system is withdrawn.