THE MAIL SYNDICATE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14310, 2 March 1907, Page 9

THE MAIL SYNDICATE.

MR CHAPMAN’S ALLEGATION. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February. 28. Tho “ Shipping Gazette,” an adherent of the mail syndicate, declares that if no other method of raising the debenture capital should he forthcoming, tho Commonwealth will probably guarantee it. Surprise is expressed at Mr Chapman’s definite allegation that its opponents are endeavouring to get at the members of the syndicate. Mr Beardmore’s withdrawal lends colour to tho allegation but nothing else is known, and further retirements are unlikely. The “Gazette” describes the cablegram that Mr Trevisa Clarke was seeking orders for torpedo-boats as a harmless fiction. His visit is intended to put the syndicate’s case before the Government. MR TREVISA CLARKE’S MISSION. MELBOURNE, March 1. The Postmaster-General denies that Mr Trevisa Clarke approached tho Government to guarantee tho debentures. Air Deakin asserts that neither Air Clarke nor Air .Esplin has spoken to him on the matter, and there was nothing that could be described as a hitch. Both Air Clarke and Air Esplin publicly deny that their mission is to secure bettor terms or to amend the contract. Notwithstanding these denials, the Press states that the denials of the Ministers are mere bluff, and that there is undoubted information that the syndicate intimated to the Government that they had reached tho limit of their resources, and appealed to the Government for assistance.