Sydney-Tahiti-'Frisco

Report of Withdrawal of Service

A STONISHMENT was caused in Sydney shipping circles on December 14 when newspapers published an announcement from London that, owing to lack of sup port, the service of steamers operated by the Union Co. between Sydney and San Francisco, via New Zealand, Rarotonga and Papeete, was to be withdrawn. There was a suggestion that the lack of support was due to the competition of the Matson Line—although the American liners do not follow that route at all, but run to Sydney via Honolulu and Suva.

No official confirmation was available in Sydney; but it was stated that the two ships engaged on the service—Maunganui and Makura—have been poorly patronised in recent months and have carried very few passengers.

It is to be hoped that this service is not abandoned. The trade of the Cook Islands and of French Oceania is of considerable value to New Zealand and Australia, and it cannot be maintained unless this par ticular line is kept in existence.