STATE—OWNED SHIPS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3454, 7 April 1920, Page 6

STATE—OWNED SHIPS.

CAKADIAN GOVERNMENT LINE.

FIRST ‘ARRIVXL IN AUCKLAND.

"The Canadian Raider, the first of the Canadian Govcrnnlent line of steamers to Visit Auckland, arrived on Saturday from Vancou\7'er, Via ports. She has about 4000 tons of coal for ,-this port, and after ‘discharging will load New Zealand produce for Montrcal.

The establishment of t'his'line was brought about by the decision of the Canadian Government to foster :1 reciprocal trading policy within the Ern'pire, and ,With this object there were ‘built a number of ste:lmel's, which are ;now employed in the Atlantic and §Pacific trade. The scheme is so far developed that a fleet of 35 steamers, varying in size from 5000 "to 10,000 tons, has been ordered. Already about 25 vessels are operating between Canada and the United Kingdom, the West Indies, and South Ainerica, and with the arrival of the Canadian Raider the trade 1-outc has been extended to New Zealand.‘

Although the Canadian Raider is the first vessel to arrive here, she is not to

be a regula.l- visitor to these waters.

‘The four steamers designetl for the regular monthly service between Vancouver and Australasia are the Canadian Impoyteir, Tfiefllanadian Exporter, Canadian Invé’ntol', and the Canadian Prospector. The vessels are of 8100 ions dead weight, "built of steel, and are equippetiwith mqdern appliances. The building of these“'ships was originally adopted. by the Canadian Grovennment as a War measure, and at the conclusion of peace it was decided to complete the building programme and use the ships for the establishment of a mercantile marine. ;

The' Canadian Raider sailed from Victoria, British Columbia, on -February 1, with a. cargo of timber and lumber for Melbourne, and on dis-

ehal'ge_ s-he prbcccded to Newcastle, where she loaded coal for Auckland.

She is expected to sail from here for Montreal direct about April 15.