PACIFIC LINERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1938, Page 7

PACIFIC LINERS

ORDERS FOR MAMMOTH SHIPS IN PROSPECT AS LARGE AS THIRTY THOUSAND TONS RE-ESTABLISHING BRITISH PRESTIGE By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. (Recd This Day, 10.15 a.m.) • LONDON, April 5. Mr. Hector Bywater, writing in the “Daily Telegraph,” says he understands that -orders will be given shortly for trans-Pacific ships which may be as large as 30,000 tons and the speed is expected to be higher than the 22 knots originally planned. It is also possible that the service may be extened to include Singapore and Hong Kong, which development is of the utmost importance in respect to that re-estab-lishment of British prestige in the Pacific.

AUSTRALIAN FEARS POSSIBILITY OF DEADLOCK. ONE DOMINION REFUSING TO CO-OPERATE. (Recd This Day, 11.10 a.m.) CANBERRA, April 5. It is feared in some quarters in Canberra that the proposed agreement for a fast British passenger shipping service across the Pacific is in jeopardy. One of the proposed parties to the agreement appears to be reluctant to co-oper-ate on any terms. Another attempt to overcome the deadlock will be made while the Australian trade delegation is in London.

Australia and Britain have accepted the financial basis of a plan for Government assistance and it is hoped the remaining Dominions concerned will be induced to fall into line. If the Dominion that has been most persistent in its opposition cannot be persuaded, however, it is unlikely that the remainder will be prepared to share the full cost involved. In that event the agreement may have to be abandoned.