London, October 26.
Britons overseas may be interested to know that passenger rates are coming down, owing to the lack of patronage. No doubt they will remain high on lines like the P.
O., which stand very much in tha same position as the bigger Cunard vessels and the fast Union Castle boats; but on all the secondary lines and on the smaller boats of the bigger lines it is now possible to secure rates which show a material drop from these of a@ year ago, The vessels which are now evidently popular are what are called the " one-class" vessels, in which the public obtain reasonable accommodation and reasonable food, without unnecessary luxuries, for a reasonable rate. The ships are not large, big liners go—only about 13,000 to 16,000 tons—but there 's always demand fcr them, and tte tendency in new construction is in_ that direction. No doubt you will always find plenty of people to traver on the Mauretanias and Berengarias, and they can afford to keep their rates high; but those countries which are not subjected ty shipping line monopolies are now rapidly approaching cheap ocean travel.
As is doubtless well-known, the winter always sees a large number of ships taken off the ocean routes end put on to pleasure tours, Every line is working this stunt this year, and really some of the rates to the Mediterranean are wonderfully cheap. The shipping companies, of course, have the great advantage of competing against railway rates, which are sti]l exceptionally high. This week I was talking to a big shipowner, who anticipated that next year there would be further cuts all round. He advised those who were waiting to' travel te held out a little longer and they would reap the benefit. There are plenty of people who will have to hold out longer, because an inclusive rate for a man, woman and child from Rhodesia. to London and back costs at present about £400. This is the most effective way of stopping inter course and checking business in the British Empire.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.