THE 'FRISCO SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 8787, 8 May 1889, Page 5

THE 'FRISCO SERVICE.

ME JAMES MILLS INTERVIEWED. (Ter Press Association.] ~DUNEDIN, Mat 7. Mr James Mills, Manager of the Union Steamship Company, in the course of an interview with a Daily Times representative rc the Sin Francisco Service negotiations, said the New South Wales Government, which in past years has professed to be somewhat indifferent to the maintenance of the San Francisco mail service. Has now taken up a different attitude, desires its continuance, and is prepared to take the main responsibility in connection with it, instead of leaving that to New Zealand as has been done hitherto. If New Zealand does not contribute, the probability is that the steamers will sail direct from Sydney to "Honolulu, without calling at Auckland; but he thinks it not unlikely that the Now South Wales Government may invite Now Zealand to participate in the service, on terms that will be so advantageous that those who have hitherto opposed the San Francisco service must modify their opinions upon the question. It seems that a remark Mr Mills made in Sydney has been entirely misconstrued, and a good deal of vigorous criticism completely thrown away upon it. Mr Mills said, <c sPha San Francisco Service is of great commercial importance to this and this statement has been criticised on the assumption that the words " thia.Colony " meantNewZealand, whereas since they were used in Sydney they had reference only to New South Wales, Mr Mills, however, is convinced that-tlie service is of material importance to New Zealand, and cannot understand how anyone can profess to be indifferent to its maintenance, provided it can be maintained at a moderate cost. The existence of this route is, he maintains, a great inducement to people in European countries to visit the Australian Colonies. Large numbers of people came to Australia by the P. and 0., Orient and other routes, and returned via New Zealand and San Francisco. Some of these visitors stayed in Auckland, and visited points of interest in the North Island; but a great many made the complete tour of New Zealand, coming via Dunedin and southern ports, and picking up the steamer at Auckland for San Francisco. It could not be said that the Colony as a whole did not benefit from these visitors, both directly and indirectly. The direct benefit was apparent and admitted, and the indirect advantages, which were of far more consequence, were that the visitors could not help being struck with the attractions and resources of our Colony, and that they naturally talked about these things, and thus became the most valuable of all advertising mediums. If the steamers of the San Francisco line ceased to call at New .Zealand, very few of the .tourists referred to would ever see this Colony, as they would not make the trip here if they had to return to Australia to join the homeward bound steamer. The result would, therefore, be that New Zealand would be more isolated than ever. As regards the Canadian line, Mr Mills thought it would be established, but it would be at least two years before it was open; and the intention was, he gathered, to aim at making it a fast mail route to Australia, in which case the steamers would go, via Fiji, to Brisbane, and the service would connect with New Zealand by means of a branch line. Mr Mills hoped that the Colonies as a whole would be able to offer such encouragement as would keep both services open, for that seemed to him to be desirable. He anticipates that a large number of visitors, from Australia will visit the Exhibition, as by arrangements made for running the Mararoa direct the sea trip will only occupy eighty-four hours. This will enable visitors to spend ten days in the Colony, and the whole trip will only occupy eighteen days.