THE VANCOUVER SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13910, 8 December 1910, Page 7

THE VANCOUVER SERVICE.

THE AUSTRALIAN POINT OF VIEW.

United Press Association—By Electric 'telegraph—Copyright.

MELBOURNE, December 7.

Mr Hughes, Acting-Premier, replying to a Chamber of Commerce deputation, which asked that, in the new contract for the Vancouver service, provision should be mado for steamers to como to Melbourne, said that the Government was very whole-heartedly in favour of reciprocal trade with Canada. The situation, however, was complicated by tho position of New Zealand, which also was anxious to have speedy communication with Canada. NewZealand had a very satisfactory fiscal arrangement with Canada, which Australia had not,and it would have been an exceedingly short-sighted policy to place New Zealand in a much more favourable position than Australia. She would be able, because of conditions with which Australia could not compete, to supply Canada's wants. The ships would be loaded with practically the same class of goods from both countries, and their origin would not be distinguishable, but they would bear different charges. That would bo a very serious bar to Melbourne.

Mr Hughes added that Mr Fisher would bo in London next year, and would havo an opportunity of meeting Sir Wilfrid Laurier and tho other Canadian delegates. They probably would succeed in reaching an understanding which, Mr Hughes had no doubt, would he approved in subsequent legislation. The new service, unless it was very much accelerated, could not include Auckland, and it would have to bo something more than a twentytwo days' service to come to Melbourne. It would mean tho complete dislocation of tho service; in fact, if vessels called at Honolulu, Fiji, Auckland, and Brisbane, or Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, it would require i n entirely new service. It would not be wise to have slow steamers in order to save £30,000 yearly, as tho passenger trade was worth nearly as much as freight. Auckland ought certainly not to be excluded unless the inclusion would (prejudice Australia very seriously. An eighteen-day service would cost £105,000 a year, and what the Commonwealth's share would be would depend on whether New Zealand participated. Under an}* circumstances tho present subsidy would have to be doubled.