P. AND O. AND THE CAPE TRADE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10021, 18 April 1910, Page 5

P. AND O. AND THE CAPE TRADE.

Increased attention to the possibilities of the Cape route to and from Australia, is given with the entry of the P. and O. Company into the South African trade by the acquisition of Luud's Blue Anchor Line, says the "Sydney Telegraph." For many years past the Blue Anchor boats have come out to Australia by way of the Cape, calling both at Durban and Capetown on the homeward run. The P. and 0. <Liompany will consequently be in the position to offer Australian passengers a choice of routes—\ia sais or via f the Cape. It is officially announced that for the present the business of the Blue Anchor Line branch will continue to be conducted by the firms with which the enterprise has long been associated. But it cannot be doubted that of the newly-ac-quired steamers are destined to become an integral part of the P. and O. fleet, and that substantial developments may be expected. For one thing, the revival of emigration to Australia would of itself be a sufficient justification tor the recent purchase. Tha traffic is one for which the P. and O. mail steamers do not cater, and the prooability is that it has a great future before it. Equally is it possible that the P. and 0 Company is anxious to utilise the Lund fleet for securing a considerable share in the Cape trade, to which it has heretofore been a stranger. The status of the company would seem to assure that it wil eventually give a high-class service to South Africa, both for passengers and cargo. Its excursions into the New Zealand trade early in the present year is only another indication • of progress.