AUCKLAND TO SYDNEY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 294, 6 May 1911, Page 2

AUCKLAND TO SYDNEY

IS THE .SERVICE SUFFICIENT? j By Telegraph.—Press Association, Auckland, Friday. Sir James Mills, interviewed on the subject of the request by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for a three days' service between Auckland and Sydney, said it wjia entirely a question of finance so far as' the Union Company was concerned. To maintain a fifteen-knot service with a boat of the Mnlieno class she would require to earn £OOOO per month, a steamer of 17 to 18 knots would have to earn £IO,OOO a month, and a 20knots boat £15,000 a month. 'A steamer of the latter power would reach Auckland in 04 hours from Sydney, and a steamer of 18 knots would accomplish the voyage in 72 hours. The difference between £6OOO and £15,000 made it prohibitive at present. If an accelerated service were wanted for mail purposes it could be secured only if the Government considered it of sufficient importance to justify a suitable subsidy. At the present time he considered that the service the company was now running —of 3 days 14 hours—was sufficient for requirements.