SUBSIDISED STEAMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 53, 20 July 1912, Page 4

SUBSIDISED STEAMERS.

SPR ECKELS' BOATS TO GET TWO DOLLARS PER MILE. News to hand by the Tahiti from San Francisco conveys" the information that the Spreckels line of steamers, which are instituting a direct service between San Francisco and Sydney (omitting a call at New Zealand), is being heavily subsidised by the United States Government under a general Act, the intention of which is to encourage maritime Owners. The Sonoma, which is due to arrive in Sydney from San Francisco on Monday next (according to time-table), must, to qualify for what is called the second-class subsidy, steam an average of 15 knots an hour'for the whole of" the outward voyage, and 011 that condition her owners (Spreckels and Co.. of San Francisco) will be entitled to claim a subsidy of two dollars per mile. As the distance between the two ports is 7400 miles, they will be entitled to claim 14,500 dollars (in English money a-.iOS!)), or double that sum if the subsidy is payable 011 actual mileage. There is said to be 110 provision as to speed on the return journey. Since the steamers were engaged in" this service before! (when they called at Auckland), the furnaces have been replaced with those adapted for oil-burning, and it is said that jliey are now capable of steaming 17 knots per hour.