OCEAN MAILS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 290, 14 December 1897, Page 2

OCEAN MAILS.

'FRISCO AND VANCOUVER SERVICES

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS ADOPTED.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

In submitting his ocean mail resolutions to the House the Premier said he would proceed to give the reasons th.it had induced the Government to bring down the proposals already published. He pointed out that the contracts proposed were only for 12 months, by which time they Avould knoAv the intentions of the United States and Australian colonies. So far as distance was concerned the 'Frisco route Avas the shorter1. It Avas proposed to divide the subsidy about equally between the two services. The increased expenditure proposed Avas about £6,000, but he thought they would find that there Avefe advantages that would compensate the colony. There was an opening for trade with Canada, and at the end of the year they could say whether it Avould be worth Avhile renewing the contract. Members would- see that there was nothing in the contracts detrimental to Auckland. He had proposals submitted covering the rates of wages to seamen and oflicers, etc., but, seeing the small amounts of subsidy given by the colony he could pot include these in the contract. He thought it Avould be Avell, under the circumstances, for the House to accept the proposals. He believed the 'Frisco service people Avould accept them, and, Avhile the Huddart-Parker Company thought the subsidy small, yet Avith a concession of half a day's further time asked foi by them he thought they also would be agreeable to accept. There could be improvements both in the class of boats used and in their speed, and he hoped to sec this in time, also an improved Australian service. Both Avould lead to many more passengers being carried. The motion to go into Committee Avas carried on the voices.

In Committee, clauses one to four were agreed to. On clause five : " No bonus shall be paid for early arrival, and penalties at the rate of four pounds an hour to be enforced only when late delivery exceeds forty-eight hours," Mr Buchanan moved to substitute twenty-four hours. Mr Ward opposed the amendment as unreasonable in face of the fact that no bonus was to be paid for early arrivals, and the service between San Francisco and Auckland was to occupy only 19 clays. The amendment would penalise Lhe Company if a steamer happened to be delayed 24 hours by stress of weather. The amendment was negatived on the voices.

Clauses 6 and 7 were passed. Clause 8 was amended to read that the passenger rates and rates for freight shall be mutually agreed on and be fixed and embodied in the contract.

The clauses as amended were carried by 37 to 13.

On clause 9 it was pointed out by Mr Pirani that a difficulty might arise through the boats having to call at two American ports, namely, Honolulu if annexed by the United States, and San Francisco, but, after discussion, the clause was agreed to without amendment.

■Mr Millar then moved to add a new clause that not less than the current rate of wages ruling in New Zealand for steamboat seamen shall Vie paid by the con■tractor. The Premier agreed to accept the amendment if "New South Wales" were substituted for "New Zealand," whicii was agreed to, and the clause passed as amended. A clause suggested by Mr McLean that the steamboats employed shall be not less than 3,000 gross tonnage was accepted by the Premier. The clauses relating to the Vancouver mail service were then agreed to, the only alteration being in clause four, extending the, time, between Wellington and Vancouver (not to exceed 21 days) by 12 hours. I The clauses re the San Francisco con-

tract moved by Messrs Millar and McLean, were added to the Vancouver proposals. The resolutions as amended to the. House Avere reported and agreed to.