PACIFIC MAIL SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 14533, 8 December 1910, Page 4

PACIFIC MAIL SERVICE

SIR JAMES .MILLS INTERVIEWED. TRADE POSSIBILITIES WITH THE STATES. 'THE VANCOUVER SERVICE. CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND ACTING TOG ETHER. [SrECiAr. to the Star.] WELLINGTON, December 8. We are on the eve of considerable improvements in the way of constructing steamers as regards propulsion. — Sir J. Mills, managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company, to a representative of the ' Star ' at Wellington 10-day. Sir James had just arrived by the Aorangi from San Francisco. He had been to London via Ottawa, and returned to New Zealand by the newly-inaugurated mail service between this country and San Francisco. Asked as to trade possibilities between New Zealand and the United States by the new service, Sir James replied that he had returned via San Francisco for tho express purpose-of making some inquiries into the prospects. "1 am now quite satisfied," he said, "that there is good trade to be developed in time, and that it will be, I am sure, a self-stipportiijg service. While at San Francisco I was entertained by members of the Merchants' Exchange, Tho general impression among business men whom I met in San F'rancisco was that now a regular four-weekly service with New Zealand and indirectly with Australia had been resumed there was good reason to anticipate a recovery of the trade formerly dono when American steamers were rurining to tho colonics. Thcreiis. also, J»am convinced, quite a good passenger trade to be developed as from the Western States of America, for there are many people there who can aft'ord to, and who wish to. escape from their winter to the kindlier climates of New Zealand and Australia."

" .'ls to markets for New Zealand products there.?"—"l am convinced," Sir James replied, " that there is a market for our frozen meat and dairy produce. Lot me tdl you this: The Aorangi took 500 carcasses of mutton on her first trip to 'San Francisco. They wore shipped by a- Wellington firm. I know that the conilition in which they arrived was most favorably commented upon. They made a very ready sale. The representative of a New Zealand firm is now in the Western States on a trade eploitation mission, and ho hopes to secure orders for regular shipments of New Zealand produce. There is sorro opposition to be surmounted in the matter of prejudice and powerful trade combinations, which latter are paramount. However. 1 holievc that our butter will meet with very ready sale in the States when it is specially prepared for that market. Butter: containing preservatives is not admitted to the States. Some bntter by'the Aorangi was refused admittance on that .gronnd. However, it was sent to Vancouver, and was (here, I understand,. profitably disposed of."

As to the service- itself. Sir James said it would for the present be maintained by the Aorangi and th-> Maitai, as the steamers best suited for the carriage of refrigerated cargo, but it was intended to replace the Maitai by a steamer with larger accommodation for loth passengers and cargo, and probably such a steamer woiild be fitted to uso oil as fuel.

.Referring to tho Vancouver service, Sir James said : \ was in Ottawa on the Ist November, when tenders for tho Va.n-ooinvrr-AutitraJiau mail bad to bo deposited. Our tender was the only ono in. We submitted several alternative routes, which have already been published iu New ZoaJafld. It wa,s decided to accept a tender for five years' direct service to Australia via Vancouver, Honolulu, Fiji. Auckland, and Sydney, tho boats to travel fifteen knots at sea and to deliver their mails within nineteen days at Auckland. Tliia jb looked upon as ample, speed at tho present time. It is what is provided for in the- contracts recently made for thrcarriage of British aiwJ Australian mails by tic 1\ and 0. and Orient liii'v. U- t}ic lied Sea Route. Tlic Canadian" and Now Zealand Governments are activ: together in this matter. So far as tlv Australian Government arc concerned i! to be feared in Australia that if ihe steamers call at New Zealand. 1 >■-■ -..;'. ;i which country and Canada- then- U a.. !••■- ciprocal tariff, New Zealand v. ill be nioro favorably situated as to iradin.; -•:<!- vantages t-lian Australia. However. Canada is in earnest about New Zealand being included in tho ports of call, and i* prepared to pay th.o largest share of the undertaking. lam in hopes that the Australian. Government will join in the contract.