POSTAL MATTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 January 1914, Page 3

POSTAL MATTERS

REPORT OF THE EMPIRE COMMISSION. SIR JOSEPH WARD INTERVIEWED. (By Telegraph —Special to the Star.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Interviewed this morning on the comments of the Empire Trade Commission regarding the postal and cable facilities between Australasia and the .Motherland, Sir Joseph Ward had' some interesting observations to make relative to New Zealand's position.

The present Leader of the Opposition was in the forefront of postal reforms while he hold office as Postmastev-Gcrenal, and since his Administration retired from office he has continued with unabating vigour to advocate the increasing of those facilities which ount so much in the development of the trade and commerce of the growing British communities in the South Pacific.

"I have little need to complain of the remarks of Uio Commission regarding the inadequacy of postal facilities, as these refer more to Australia than New Zealand." began Sir Joseph. ''So far as New Zealand is concerned, we are in this position," he went- «m.

j "We do not subsidise any route going from Sydney, and consequently have no ! right as a. country to dictate as to what I should be done when we are not giving j any contributions for a speedy ""service Thai is a question for the consideration of (Jivat Britain and Australia. It i.i quite true (hat wo pay the Postal Union j rates for any mutter that goes by any J service we do not subsidise, but in addi- : lion to that we have an excellent arrange- [ ment for the conveyance of newspapers, j for instance, from New Zealand, at a j cheap rate, but the Suez service is not I the route by which they go. In addition j also to our services across Canada and the ! Uniied States, there are a number of fine ' direct steamers travelling between New j Zealand and the Old Country, so that ! upon tiie whole we are very well served.' I THE SPEED FACTOR. i "The question of speed between the Old ; Country and the Dominion is an entirely j different matter.. Anyone who knows 'anything of the extra cost incurred for 'obtaining speed at sea realises, as I do that if we want faster communication. between New Zealand and London there is only one way to get it, viz., by paying 'sufficient money to induce steamship pro prietors to supply and equip vessels to maintain a higher rale of speed than we have at present across the Pacific and Atlantic. If we are prepared to pay for it, we ought to be brought about a week closer to the Motherland. It v-, however, as I say. all a matter of moi. 3y, and |my opinion is that the opening of the Panama Canal is sure to create fresh velopments. Tt must, be beneficial to N"ew Zealand. Any forward movement to ensure faster communication with the j Mother Country must, in my opinion, be considered upon practical lines." I "From a commercial point of view," continued Sir Joseph Ward, "this country has very little need to complain. It has enormous services, while the total amount the country is paying for them is piactieally a bagatelle compared to the direct and indirect advantages we gain." j PROHIBITIVE CABLE CHARGES. i Discussing the suggestion for cheaper,- ! ing the cables, Sir Joseph declared thai this was a question on which he held J very emphatic opinions. "I have pointed ion, and urged it time after time in every ; quarter. I moved a resolution at the ! Imperial Conference, and I have repoat- ' edly called attention to it in the House | of Representatives, and have-made representations to the Imperial authorities o>> various occasions. There are some people who imagine that Sir Henniker Heaton was greatly in advance of the times when he advocated penny word cables. I was not prepared to go as far as he was in urging in that direction, because financial considerations had to be admitted : but I have for years urged sixpence a word, and I believe that at tin's rate, comparatively speaking, empty cable lines would be reasonably filled ftnd that payable results would come with the cheapening of the cast, as is now recommended bv the Empire Commission." THE ATLANTIC LINK. "What I hope the Commission will also recognise," added Sir Joseph, "is the fact that there should be a State-owned "able across the Atlantic, which is a necessary link to complete a State-owned Pacific cable. When that link is com. pletcd T think it. is unquestionable that the Pacific Cable Board, with the full concurrence of the countries it represents, should be able, without the least difficulty, to brine; about a heavy reduction in the cable charges. I have repeatedly pointed out that to a very large extent it is the commercial world only that can afford to pay the present high costs of cabling. The service, ought to be brought within reach of those who want, to use it. for anv purposes, business, social or domestic."