OVERSEAS SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 112, 14 May 1929, Page 10

OVERSEAS SERVICES.

■ ■ SOUTH ISLAND CLAIMS. TRADE WITH THE EAST. TENDERS TO BE INVITED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, this day. When a deputation waited on Sir Joseph Ward to congratulate him on his determination to renew the regular service between the South Island, Tasmania and Victoria, one speaker remarked that, while the Prime Minister had said it was hoped that a local steamship company might get the service,' the speaker hoped that every opportunity would be given to the Royal Dutch Packet Company to tender. That company ran a very fine service of steamers to Australia from the East. There was an enormous population in the East to which New Zealand would like to export its produce, and if the company had a service to New Zealand !tnere would be no need for transhipments in Australia. In Java and the East there were many wealthy people, and such a service might attract very many tourists here. Though a hope had been expressed that a local company might get the contract he would like to point out that it w r as through the local company that they had lost the .service, because it paid it better to concentrate on two ports in the north rather than on the rest of New Zealand. Sir Joseph: We shall see what the result of advertising for tenders is. In the course of his remarks the Prime Minister said in regard to the general position of the North Island, that it went without saying that it had fine services, those services having been obtained very largely as the result's of efforts of South Island members as well as of North Island members. Southern members had never shown the slightest indication of jealousy, but, on the contrary, were emphatic that those vital services in the north should be maintained. In 18S8 he had moved that the heavy amount paid towards the San Francisco service should be reduced. It was reduced, and later he was responsible for getting the contract renewed at less than half its former cost. It had been carried on wonderfully well eiricej

and gave a connection to the North Island which was invaluable. They would fight as hard to maintain that service as they would to establish and maintain a southern service.