Some in Twenty Days.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43094, 18 May 1907, Page 2

Some in Twenty Days.

Several gentlemen prominently connected with commerce and shipping in Auckland were interviewed on Tuesday as to the possibilities of the service, and their veiwa are giveu below : Pi bsldent of the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr N. A. Nathan, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, expressed pleasure at the receipt of the cable. “ I think that the service is within the region of possibility,” he said, “and it would be of immense benefit to the colony. The st tamers of the Empress line coming direct from Vancouver, and possibly catting out Honolnlu, might make it a sufficiently rapid connection. These are beautiful steamers, well fitted up for passengers, and have always keen favourite boats for those travelling to Japan. They would be very suitable for both passengers, mails, and cargo between Vancouver and New Zealand. The sevice would, of course, necessitate subsidies from New Zealand and Australia.” “ What do you think would be a fair subsidy from this colony ?” *• I think we should offer £50,000, The service is really what we hava.been looking for many years —a fast all red route, as we now have the all British cable, Looking ahead to eventualities in the case of war, or. say, international complication, it would be of great advantage to have a line thoroughly under British control all the way, so that no nation could interfere with it without directly attacking us. If the service were inaugurated, the law which prevented the Union s.s. Moana carrying passengers between America and Honolulu would not operate, because the passengers would not be carried between two American ports, as was the case then. At present the boats would not have very much cargo to carry, but a line, like that suggested would increase business be tween Australasia and Canada to such an extent that larger boats would probably be required before long.” " And do you think a monthly connec tion with London would be sufficient ?” Yes. because we should still have the ordinary Sues mail to rely on between trips for duplicates, late letters, etc., and, of course, the cable is always there. Then we will have better facilities under the new Australian mail contract. I expect that the Atlantic service weuld end Nova Scotia, where the Allan line is already running a fast turbine liae."

The following are Sir W. Lanner’fl motions, which wore carried unanimously at the Imperial Conference 41 That this Conference is Of opinion that the interests of the Empire demand that, as far as practicable, its different portions should be connected by the best posable means of mail communication, travel, and transportation ; that it is advisable that Great Britain be connected with Canada, and through Canada with Australia and New Zealand, by the best service available within a reasonable cost; that for the purpose of carrying the above project into effect, such financial suport as may be necessary should be contributed by Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in equitable proportions,”