THE MALL SERVICES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13907, 5 December 1910, Page 4

THE MALL SERVICES.

VANCOUVER AND SAN FRANCISCO.

(srECTAI, TO "TIIE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, December 3,

When tli&'votc of £3856 for the San Francisco Mail Service was reached during consideration of the Supplementary Estimates to-tlay, Mr James Allen asked the Prime Minister to state the present position in regard to the proposed Vancouver service. Sir Joseph "Ward said he cabled to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, offering a subsidy of £20,000 if the steamers could call at Auckland, and he also cabled to the Federal Prime 'Minister, asking if his Government would agree to such au airaiigonient. The reply was that tno Federal Government could not a^rce; they wanted the steamers to call at more than one port in Australia. The Canadian Government, on its part, would not agree to confine the service to Australia, and the matter was standing over until the three countries came into line. New Zealand would pay noth* ing unless the steamers would call at. Auckland, and he was using his best endeavours to bring that about. Mr Malcolm asked whether there was a prospect of a service between Canada and New Zealand only.

The Prime Minister replied that he had cabled to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, asking what subsidy would be required for such a service, but had not yet had a reply. Answering a question by Mr Herries, Sir Joseph Ward said that the San Francisco service via Tahiti would bo continued until the House could consider it nest session, even if the Vancouver service -were brought into operation in tho meantime. If both were running, that would amount to a fortnightly service.