VANCOUVER SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 742, 15 February 1910, Page 6

VANCOUVER SERVICE.

NEW.: ZEALAND AND AUSTEALIAN .4;. ,;,. . . NEGOTIATIONS. " py Special OorrespondcntJ . . Auckland, February 14 ' .The Australian, mail- brings 'a : : riiore comprehensive report'- of; the references by the Federal:;Postmaster-General,- Sir, John Quick, .to the. projected' improveinerits in the .Vancouver mail'service.,; . ;' , ' ••^^-.l,r^rit,con^t,';/sda'''.i^;M: ister, ■ "with tho'Union Steam; Ship'-..Com-, pany, for a mail service 'from:' Sydney to Vancouver; ;,yia. Brisbane . arid iFiji," has' been .renewed: from .year;,.to", year. :;Theterms of the contract provide for a fiub--:'^66,000,. of .which ' Australia .pays' .$6,626; .Canada and Fiji .£2282. llie •Coramohwealth. Government-is greatv i impressed ' with, the importance and value of- this '.service.:':'- ;.',-,- v ..,> -have been opened Canada' with respect,.to, the. advisability of; calling lor tenders for-an', improyed, service: for a .definite and more lengthy--period, , so,'.ai' to - give':theV-con-.tractors; greater;:'security and more inducement- to provide - better anil larger vessels.', -Canada; has - assentedto this proposition -without : binding herself to; any particularamount. ' Zealand;, then, cam©inio ; the ; ne- • gotiations, and'.suggested that Auckland should be,l made; a -port;'of call,i' offeringcontribute substantially' l towards , the subsidy ..'if.; this * were 'done.- It -would mean' a .serious. deviation from the : .exist-: •' and\-woiild particularly' afBrisbane. ■ :It would , also lengthen ; tne;-yoyage. V'. : • • --^9, ' present •no agi'ee- i ment -has >: .been.;'come' to :upon the sub-'. has.'been'; decided to* grant to j the..Union'Steojh;-6hip Company' a re- 1 newal; of.the'.existing ; contract.' for one'i year.- from: July;,3l, next. /.During the W" 1 rency.'of';the .renewal,' tenders will -be called, for, a'.new mail; semceiUlong 'the.' old . route. for . three' or five years alternatively. It will be left.to the con'trac-'l tors, vto'-specify, -another V.route - if- 'they, think; fit, V-showirig ~ what -increased' . or reduwd; subsidy .the, alteration: of'route' would, involve.": -,: