THE ’FRISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 240, 18 October 1901, Page 2

THE ’FRISCO MAIL SERVICE.

DISCUSSION IN THE HO LSI:

By Telegraph—Press Associntioi

Wellington, lust night. In the House this afternoon Air Ward, in moving the mail resolutions, announced’ that if the mail resolutions were carried he would propose a further resolution iking the minimum poundage of £15,000. The demand of Messrs Spreckols for £20,000 was altogether too high in view of the fact that with the Australian colonies the amount was only £30,000. Lie attached no importance to the prediction that the ’Frisco mail service would go to- Queensland. He ‘.believed Air Sprccklcs too good a business man to lose sigdit of the advantage of the trade with tins colony, Even it the Vancouver service were established Auckland must ho the terminal port of call, it was monstrous that the House must he driven to accept the terms of Air Spreckels, and fall down and worship the ’Frisco service. Under the present proposals the net cost of the ’Frisco service would he £10,34-1. Last year it cost only £10,863, which showed the Government was not suggesting any skipping payment. New Louth Wales at tne same time was getting the benefit of this service for £2OOO, because it had not come into the contract and received the benefit of the postal known rates ; yet when the New Zealand Government asked that they should be supported in fixing good the commercial contract they wen; charged with ulterior motives. Air Ward agreed there ought to be a service via Vancouver, and there ought to be an opportunity for developing the trade with Canada, ft was their duty to ask Air Spreckels to use whatever political pressure fie had to secure tile employment of a f iritish-owned steamer in the ’Frisco trade. The exclusion of the British-owned steamers had without doubt acted detrimentally against the ’Frisco, service, lie strongly urged the ’Frisco service, as it would maintain our connection with the great nation, and that splendid feeling existed between Liiudand and America. Eastern troubles might arise, and with federated Australia close' • to us we could not tell what troubles might arise with Japanese and other races.

Messrs Millar and Fisher spoke sirongly against the 'Frisco service. ° 1

The House resumed at 7.off p.m., and the debate on the mail proposals was continued throughout the evenin''. Mi Massey, member ior J: rankiin, hoped that the House would not increase by one week the time between the colony and the huger centres of the world with which we did business, simply because we disapproved of American shipping laws. Messrs Witheford and Napier, members for Auckland city, strongly supported the. T risen service.

Messrs Buddo and G. W. Bussed opposed the Frisco service, the latter objecting to a subsidy being given to a company belonging to a nation that had raised

a strong prohibitive barrier against us. Captain Bussell spoke in favor of the Frisco line as being the best the colony could got.

The discussion is expected to last until an early hour of the morning.