New N.D.L. Liners Sold To Burns

Philp

Neptun Continues Service While Merkur Goes to Singapore Run

THE struggle between Messrs. Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd., and the Nord Deutcher Lloyd interests for the growing shipping trade of New Guinea had an un pected and dramatic finish. Messrs. Burns Philp have purchased (subject to certain safeguards regarding the condition of the ships) the two motor vessels, Neptun and Merkur, with which the N.D.L. Co. had proposed to establish a new service be tween Manila, New Guinea, and Australia.

The Neptun, under the command of Cap tain Hans Reinhardt, arrived in Sydney from Germany on December 6, via Mel bourne, and left for Salamaua on December 8 with passengers and general cargo.

The white-hulled Neptun is of 5944 tons gross, and has attractive passenger ac commodation for 85 first-class and 20 cabin-class passengers.

Built in 1924, the vessel had for some years been running between Bremen and Mexico, under the name of Rio Panuco.

Her master. Captain Reinhardt, was for merly chief officer of the Atlantic liner Europa.

While the Neptun was in Sydney Har bour there were quick-fire negotiations between Burns Philp and the N.D.L. in terests. This was not a new thing—nego tiations for the sale of these ships actually started a year ago—but apparently the arrival of the very good looking Neptun in Australian waters, and the attractive pas senger and freight rates offered, brought matters to a head. A few hours after the Neptun had sailed for Salamaua, with many passengers and considerable cargo, it was announced that the two vessels had been bought by the old South Seas firm.

The announcement of the sale probably will put an end to a political situation that was threatening to cause a good deal of strong feeling. The fierce competition of the proposed new German line, running between British ports in the Far East and Australia, had been strongly resented by the existing unsubsidised British lines; and the latter had made a very insistent appeal to the Commonwealth Govern ment for protection from this kind of competition. As certain Imperial con siderations of importance were involved, the Commonwealth Government referred the matter to the Imperial Government, and it seemed as if the issue would have international significance. The sale of the two motor vessels, and the subsequent withdrawal of the N.D.L. from this field, puts an end to an embarrassing situation.

It was thought at first that this settle ment might include the withdrawal of the Bremerhaven and Friderun, the two small N.D.L. steamers whose activities in New Guinea have caused so much irritation to the Australian shipping and trading firms. But, so far as can be ascertained, the position of the Friderun and Bremer haven is not affected —they will continue their operations in New Guinea and, it is expected, will run between New Guinea ports and Hongkong, as in the past.

It is understood that Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., intend to permit one of the vessels —probably the Neptun—to continue on the Australian-New Guinea- Hongkong run, in the schedule already announced and arranged: but the other ship, which is due in Australian waters early next year, will not enter the Aus

tralian-Hongkong service, and, instead, will be placed on the Sydney-Darwin- Java-Singapore run, which she will carry on in conjunction with the Marella. It will be remembered that the new B.P. motor-ship, Malabar, which had just en tered the Singapore service, was wrecked near Sydney some three years ago, and that she was not replaced in the service, but that instead the cargo steamer Man gola was used to carry on the schedule.

It is now' understood that the Mangola will be withdrawn and the Merkur sub stituted.

It is likely that the names of the two newly-purchased motor vessels (Neptun and Merkur) will be altered, so that they may be added to the list of Burns, Philp “M” ships, so w r ell-known in the tropical seas.

Messrs. Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd., are very anxious to give a better service to the goldfields end of New Guinea, and they recently compiled new time-tables, under which there was to be a direct steamer service between Sydney and Salamaua. These were published in this journal in October. The re-arranged time-tables, however, had to be sub mitted to the Commonwealth Govern ment for its approval: with the result that the proposed schedules are still in Canberra, and still the subject of intense argument between the Commonwealth Government, the shipping firm, and half a-dozen small administrations and insti tutions. It appears that every one of the latter had some objection to offer to the new schedules, and could see the general situation from only its own point of view.

The nett result is that Messrs. Burns,

Philp & Co., Ltd., are simply carrying on their Islands time-tables according to the old schedules, while admitting that more satisfactory time-tables are possible if only the various Governments con cerned could be induced to agree.

The Neptun, however, by continuing on her present run, will give quick service from Sydney to Salamaua, direct, about every two months.

A very successful Children’s Concert and Fancy Dress Ball, organised by that popular and capable lady, Mrs. McGrath (the children’s “Mother Christmas”) was held at Port Moresby recently; and all the folk who attended proclaimed the show the best children’s entertainment ever held there.

Photo: A. and K. Gibson.