B.P. Services Renewed Until 1943

New Modern Ship Will Replace Montoro on Jan. 1, 1939

DETAILS of the new contract made between the Commonwealth Government and Messrs. Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd. for the continuance of the mail and steamer services between Australia and the territories of Papua, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island, were published late in January, just after the P.I.M. had gone to press.

The new contract operates from April 1, 1937, to December 31, 1943.

The duration of the voyage of steam ers trading between Sydney and the ter ritories of Papua and New Guinea will be reduced, from April 1. A five-and-a half weekly service will be introduced instead of the present six-weekly service.

To supplement the shipping facilities to New Guinea, calls at Salamaua and

Rabaul will be made by the Burns, Philp steamer Neptuna, which trades between Sydney and Hong Kong. If it is neces sary, arrangements will be made by Burns, Philp for the Marella and Merkur , wdiich trade between Melbourne and Sin gapore, by way of Thursday Island, to be diverted to the territories during the Christmas and other rush periods.

The fares charged between territory ports are framed generally on a basis of £3 for the first day, and £1 for each succeeding day. A reduction will be made in this rate from April 1 to £2 for the first day and £1 for each addi tional day.

From January 1, 1939, a new vessel will be in commission to replace the Montoro. This vessel will be the largest and most convenient that has ever been in the island service. When the vessel is in commission the subsidy will be in creased to £52,500 a year.

Arrangements have been made for a continuance of the calls by the subsi dised steamers at Brisbane and North Queensland ports, and both steamers en gaged in the Papua-New Guinea service will continue to call at Rabaul before going to Salamaua.

Sir George Pearce stated it had been decided that it would not be necessary or desirable to subsidise an inter-island service in the territory. The inter-island service would be more efficient and up to date because the former Norddeut scher Lloyd vessel Bremerhaven had been purchased by an Australian com pany, and transferred to the British reg ister, to trade between ports in New Guinea, and a new vessel, in course of construction for Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., would be placed in commission in July. It would trade solely between the islands in New Guinea.

Freight rates from Australia to New Guinea would be generally 60/- a ton, with special rates for: Cement and coal, 20/-; flour and sugar. 25/-; copra sacks, 30/-; aerated waters, beer, biscuits, bran, pollard, sharps, salt and tinned meats, tinned fish, and tinned milk, 45/-.