THE ALL-RED ROUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 94, 9 April 1908, Page 3

THE ALL-RED ROUTE.

ITS UU'EUIAL ASPECT,

THE POTENTIALITIES OF THE PACIFIC.

DISCUSSED BY THE COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

Received Bth, 102 H p.m. Loudon. April S.

A meeting of the Colonial Institute (Lord Derby presidingi discussed a p per by Lord Strathcona dealing with tie' MU-Red" route from an Imperial stancTpoint. Those present included the Hon. Reeves, New Zealand High Coiumi~siv>ner, Several agents-general, aud other re preaentative Australians. Lord Stmthtona defended the St. Lawrence route, and deelared that the channel would have a niiniinuui of u tijouaami feet width and 40!t deep at the lowest tide up to Quebec. He emphasised the necessity of Britain maintaining a supreme and up-to-date merchant marine, particularly iu the Pacific, in view of the potentialities of trade. He did not claim tliat the scheme would be self-supporting at the outset, but the route would create its own trade. He added that steamships built in Knglaud would provide a good j investment-

Sir John Calomb emphasised the coining struggle for supremacy in the Pacific, and said auxiliary cruisers would be useless without battleships. Admiral Douglas considered that there would be no difficulty in coaling aud receding ample accommodation at Fanning Island.

The Commonwealth agent said that the Suez route was inevitably more valuable to Australia, but the Commonwealth was agreed upon the advantage of an alternative route. Hon. Reeves declared that the unforeseen success of the Pacific table and the trade created via San Francisco were good omens for the 'All Red" route. Though he admitted Australia relied upon the Suez, New Zealand and yueensland, he said, would stand to gain considerably by an -'All Red" route