REJOINDER TO'SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 929, 23 September 1910, Page 5

REJOINDER TO'SIR JOSEPH WARD.

BY , MR.. GUNSON. i (By Telceraph.—Press Association.! Auckland, September 22. Interviewed this evening, Mr., Gunson replied to Sir Joseph Ward as follows:— "Referring to Sir Joseph Wards' remarks about keeping silence while ho was negotiating "for the Vancouver service, the only point we raised was about securing a call hero in tho present yearly costtract. It is strange that I had the same

counsel from Mr. Holdsworth, General Manager for the Union Steam Ship Company, and at a time when wo were not aware that they had anything to do with, it. It is obvious that they wished to keep things in the dark while they were getting under way. To all intents and purposes they were keeping us "on the string" about Vancouver. vVhile we wero thinking that wo were going to havo an- up-to-aate Vancouver service, they were evidently arranging for this slow Papeete service. Now, Sir Joseph knows better than anybody else that what accounted for his failure to secure the Vancouver call here was Australia's opposition, on account of tho operation of tko Canadian preferential tariff in favour of New Zealand. There is no secret about that. ; For four years, past New Zealand, has not succeeded in obtaining inclusion, but, as the result of the, Auckland agitation this year, we were nearer than ever before, and, as the outcome, there, are possibilities at the moment which never previously existed. The trouble.was that Auckland has been too long silent, but 1 trust her passive days have now ceased. We do not agree with Sir Joseph that we, should keep silence upon this public question. "We are not," proceeded Mr. Gunson, dependent upon Australia or the. Union Company. We advised Sir Joseph'.-Ward in June last that we. were quite satisfied to', wait until/ the' November tenders were in for the improved Vancouver service. I submit that it is Sir Joseph himself who displays (as he terms it) 'an impetuous desire,' which is evidenced by his launching upon-the Dominion what is termed a mail service—one that was not asked for by the country, that was not' wanted, and was not expected by anyone else, than the contractors. If for no other reason' than that set up by Sir, Joseph himself—namely, the early . possibility of the Government being 'called upon for a heavy subsidy for an up-to-date Vancouver service—the present proservice should never have been negotiated "for as a mail. line. If, however, the Government should: determine to have another service at this stage, well and good, but why do they propose to pay £im per voyage for a ■ 22-day service, with once-discarded vessels, when it was possible to have obtained a 17-day service,for a voyage, with; .vessels which, upon recent trials, have proved a' great success? Now, Sir Joseph is ; a business man, and, therefore, the question put in : this way' must surely appeal to, him.' "/■ |. /., .■ ■ ..Sir Joseph's reference to the effect'., that,, if- he' adopted the 17-day service in lieu, of' Jus: proposal, he might be.. in/ the position of having to refuse a, much finer service, has nothing whatever to do with the matter,-.,for he has already committed himself to a large payment, and. the, extra .'cost: for ,what 'we advocate -is merely trifling.,. We' ask '■', him to: replace the ■ inferior, with the', better, service. 1 - \ He has entirely brought about, the present condition .by. his premature' action,, and unexpected proposals. ■ The: whole' .point. is',: ■ that. /it/surely, devolves- uponv the Government";to. do the best,'possible -for. tho country, when paying large 6ums in subsidies'...,,./. 1 : './ ;■.,-.. , "Sir .Joseph gives considerable prominence," he concluded, "to the'lsland fruit trade .to Wellington. ...In this connection I am. pleased, to. accept his assurance that' he. has. no/intention of removing 'i fromAuckland the fast'mail services-of the future; The Island fruit, trade with Wel-lington-is important, and should certainly receive jdue consideration. My chamber has ~not,a': word to say. against it,./and: wpuldi.aid the promotion of it-in'ahy possible:way, but why it should be given such/a primary place in the' Dominion's oversea mail proposals passes my com.prehension."■■ .\, ..'/■-.. - ~//