MAIL SERVICES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 807, 3 May 1910, Page 4

MAIL SERVICES.

WELLINGTON DISAGREES WITH' AUCKLAND. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has been active lately in urging the Government to seriously consider the subsidising of tho Vancouver steamers on condition that they call at Auckland, and enter into a contract to do the trip between New Zealand sad Vancouver-in 17 or 18 days. The Wellington Chamber Iβ evidently not in accord with Auckland's desires in this regard. ■ ' Ac a special meeting of the Council of the Chamber, held yesterday afternoon b> consider the question of mail services, it was decided to approach the Government and urge that tho present service, via Sydney, ■' Suez, and BrindKi, be noj discontinued, vt it h-Ai boon found to bo a most satisfactory service, and thoy would be sorry to lose it. The Auckland Chamber had favoured subsidising , the Vancouver eervico, but in the opinion, of the council it would be preferable to subsidise the direct services via . Monte Video, maintained by ' the Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company on their ensuring fixed dans of arrival and departure in New Zealand and London.

This opinion of the local chamber ts not new. Time and again it has emphasised, in , regard to mail services to England, that it does not value the cutling down' , of the ''time"taTcen on _ the voyage by a day or two, above a reHahlo "service as to dates of departure and arrival. The commercial community of .Wellington wish to be in a position to know precisely on what day their letters, merchandise, etc., will reach London, ana what date they can look for the arrival of mail matter and goods forwarded to the Dominion. PBBIE MINISTER'S STATEMENT.. 18l Tolegraph.-Piem AejoclaUott.) Auckland, Hoy 2. In the course of a reply to telegrams sent by Mr. J. H. Gunson, president of the Auokland Chamber of Commerce J» the improvement "of the Vancouver service, or the substitution of a better Hie Prime Minister states/that a snhsidy of .£20,000 per annum was definitely offered for a call at Auokland by present steamers, and representations were made several times (and as late as at the beginning of the present year) to have Auckland made a port of call. The, Government also intimated the willingness of the Dominion to join with the British and Canadian l Governments .to the extent of. .£75,000 per annum for a fast fortnightly steamer eervico from Vancouver to New Zealand, touching at Honolulu and Fiji. This, Sir Joseph Ward effll considers, is the proper service. Sir Joseph cannot undertake to suggest to the Federal Government that Brisbane should be (the only port of call in Australia. '' '■ ■

The Government is still awaiting frn?l advice from Melbourne of the decision to renew the present arrangement Shonld the decision be adverso to New Zealand, the Government will serionsly' consider establishing a service of its own. -