THE MAIL CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1027, 17 January 1911, Page 6

THE MAIL CONTRACT.

AUCKLAND OPINION. SOME SURMISES SET AFOOT. , (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) . Auckland, January 16. • Speculation is rifo in Auckland as to what will bo tho position, with regard to tho recently-c&tnblislied service between New Zealand and San Francisco by tho Union Company, now that tho new "Vancouver service is assured. Whan the San Trancirco contract.was aunouueed last, winter Sir Joseph Ward paid: "Should a neyr Vancouver service bo established calling at Auckland both ways, and should the Sau Francisco service provo satisfactory, tho arrangement is that the" latter .service shall be extenu:od for two years, with Wellington as the •inward- and "outward port, of call." In tho light of after events there is an impression, in certain well-informed quarters that the hurried inauguration of a service' to America was influenced by a dosiro on*the part of the Union Company to'have a line to fall back upon in-tho event of losing tho Vancouver service, and thatHhc boats now running in tho Vancouver route would replace the Aorangi and\Maitai. Certain opposition that was anticipated in tho tendering for the Vancouver servico did not apparently materialise. The opinion is held that now that wc havo the Vancouver servico -assured, the San Francisco service will not be renewed.. It would be much slower than the new service, and the mails would undoubtedly go via Vancouver.

MAILS NINE DAYS EABLIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' ■ - Auckland, January 16. •Mr. W. H.. Beddoe, Canadian Trade Commissioner to-New Zealand, stated today that, under tho-new contract, ..the vessels on the Vancouver service will call at Fiji, and Auckland. As- to any Australian ports of call, that would bo the subject of further ' negotiations. ■Tenders', were'! called'"for..- a-.'.four-weekly service, arid so it. is to be presumed that the ' service will be ■ a four-weekly one. Mr. Beddoe added that, under the new contract. New Zealand would get her mails nine 'days .earlier than under tho present Vancouver contract;' as, by tho direct call at Auckland, tho mails would bo saved going-on from Suva to Brisbane and Sydney, and then being brought on hero. New Zealand, ho added, would also benefit materially -by being saved transhipment. s STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER, - Dunedin, January 16. Sir Joseph Ward arrived here by special train in company with tho Governor about 5 p.m. to-day. At 7.15 p.m. he officially opened the, new post 'office at St. Kilda. In the course of his remarks, he referred to the Vancouver mail service, and said that he had received the following cablegram from 'Sir Wilfrid Laurier:— "Havo informed Sir James Mills that Canada- -will close the. contract t with him for a period of five years,. tho posts to-be Honolulu, Suva, and Auckland for. the • prtsent. , Canada will ■ reserve the right to require the contractor to ■ proceed to Sydney or ' or both." •' The contract would be confirmed with the Union Company in the course of a few days.' If' Australia came in later on with a contribution New , Zealand would be "only too glad'to be assisted with the Commonwealth' in the' matter.. ' ' , Sir' Joseph Ward was subsequently entertained' at-a'.banquet jit St.' Kilda. He will 'leave for Christchurch to-morrow.