THE PREMIER'S DEFENCE OF THE SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12593, 8 September 1906, Page 10

THE PREMIER'S DEFENCE OF THE SERVICE.

(SPECIAL TO " THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, September 7. A discussion regarding the San Francisco mail service took place in the House this afternoon (hiring the discussion of the postal estimates, which contained the item of £20,000 as the yearly subsidy to the service. Mr Aitken (Wellington), who opened the discussion, referred to the remarks made by him on the question last week. The Pc6t master-General had then stated, he said, that the eauee of the iSonoma's late arrival at Auckland, on her recent trip, was a detention of two and a-half daw at San Francisco through a strike on the wharf. He (Mr Ait ken) had since been credibly informed, that this was not the case, and that the Sonoma had left San Francisco on her duo date, but that when eorao twelve hours out some portion of the. machinery broke down., which necessitated the steamer's return to .San Francitico for repairs, which took up the time referred to. The condition of the service was very unsatisfactory from every point of view, and the colony should ceaso subsidising it. The service was an American one, and the boate belonged to a country that would not allow us to do what we allowed them to do. Sir Joseph Ward said that Mr Aitken was misinformed as to the circumstances of tho Sonoma's departure from .San Francisco. The steamer left two and a-half days late, owing, he believed, to a lumpers' strike. He did not think this was the time to discues tho service. Mr Aitken said they were aeked to pass another year's subsidy. Sir Joceph Ward: "Later on I propose to submit resolutions in regard to the service." _ Mr Aitken interjected something in reference to an American, service. Sir Joseph Ward said this quest ion should not be raised. The service gave them connection with England, and unless the American Government subeidieed the service, we could not get it at all. It was no good our cutting off ou.r Hoc* to spite our face. From a colonial point oi view, ho thought they should 1-eep the service going. It was the quickest route, and it waa proposed to build larger and faster vessels. The £70,000 received in subsidies did not seem to have boon nearly sufficient to make the service pay. Mr lza.rd (Wellington.) asked whether a better San Francisco service could .not be obtained by adopting another port of call. He believed that the propesed new steamers were to l>e or the turbine type, ancf,ho understood that the ditneuhy in. regard to siioh steamers was tJiat they would not run at a liigh rate of speed when the water was very warm. (Loud laughter.) Weil, members might laugh, but ho believed tliat when the Maheno ran into tho equator her speed l immediately went down. (Renewed laughter.) This was a we 11-known, fact, 1 and >if_the steamer's head alter leaving San Francisco was turned iurthor south than Auckland, she would probably reach the colony in less time. M r James Allen (Bruce) asked whether the Postmaster-General wouTu take a vote • for the continuance of the service up till November only, when t.ho present contract would expire. If the House then decided to continue the service the remainder of the year's subsidy could Ixs voted. He had always voted , for; the San Ftraiitcmco service, but dio thought they should have a distinct understanding with America regarding the latter'e navigation laws which now precluded our own boats from trading over a portion of the route between, this colony and, San Francieco. As soon as a New Zealand boat touched Honolulu she could' not carry merchandise beyond tJiat port. Before renewing tho Ban Francisco service they should also ascertain what arrangemenite might be unade in regard'to<the new β-ervieo between, tho Commonwealth and England, or in respect to improving the Suez service. v Mr Davey (QiristciiuVch) eaid he was opposed to subsidising American shipowners to carry our mails, but ho would 'not oppose the vote if it waa understood) that an opportunity, would be given to reconsider the whole matter. Mr Poole (Auckland) 6«, id it would be very unwise to swap horses when crossing a stream. The present San Francisco service was the most direct servico available between New Zealand and London. Although the San Francisco service was 'not all that could be desiredi it had been satisfactory most of tJie time. As for Mr Izard's remarks about the reduction of speed at tlie equator, the Postmaster-General might arrange for placing a refrigerating plant •there. (Laughter.) It would bo umviso to give up the San Francisco service before they had anything bettiT to take its place. Mr Remington said tho San Francisco service had been very unsatisfactory. Ho quoted from the official correspondence to chow that the Ventura did barely thirteen knots on one of her trips. Sir Joseph Ward: "What was th* date of that tripP" Mr Remington!: "The date of the letter referring to it is March Bth, 1906. I thimk we could get a much better service than by tying ourselves up to the Oceailio Company." Mr Aitken said he entirely endorsed tho criticism of tho eeivice that had been passed iby other members. There were other ways to England besides by way of San Francisco—for instance, the "All Red" route. On June 21st the San Francisco mail eteamer left for this colony with mails. The day following (Juno 22nd) a steamer left Vancouver with mails, ami arrived in Sydney (after delivering her mails at Honolulu, Fiji, and Brisbane) a day and a-half before tho San Francjsco steamer arrived in Sydney. This went to show that the Vancouver service could be used to more advantage, and if tho matter were taken up by the Post-master-General, it could be made a much better service than they could ever hope to make of the San Francisco service. We were now subsidising Americaii'-built steamers, and went on. bolstering up a service when we could have a very much, more satisfactory one. Tho Suez service should be taken more advantage of by this State. Steamers leaving Wellington on a Saturday arrived in Sydney on the following Wednesday morning, just contriving to get to Sydney a few hoars tor. late to catch the mail steamer far Ergland. Mr W. Fraser: "You can't blame them." iMr Aitken: "T don't blame them, bocnuso they don't get a subsidy." Mr Buddo (Kaiaraoi) thought they could get an equally good connection via Vancouver, and he said that if they adopted that service, or any arrangement in connection, with the new Australian; service, Auckland would still be the rcost convenient port pf call. The Vancouver service to Auckland seemed to bo the l>est. hut what was wante<l wa.s fn.-.t steamers instead of fruit etvainere fru'U Suva. If they had better

eteamere for thie run, the Vancouver mail oouM be delivered as quickly ac the San Francisco mail.