SUBSIDY FOR SOUTH ISLAND MAIL SERVICE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6921, 29 May 1929, Page 6

SUBSIDY FOR SOUTH ISLAND MAIL SERVICE

Prime Ministers Defence

NARROW NORTHERN OUTLOOK DEPLORED ESSENTIAL CONNECTION. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, referred in an interview to-day to the need for an adequate mail service between the South island and Australia. A narrow view should not be* taken of the proposal of the Government to pay a subsidy. He said a, subsidy for such a service was as important to the South Island as the subsidy for a passenger, mail and cargo servico from Auckland to Australia and Vancouver was to the Auckland people. It was, ho said, an ago of subsidies. As to the service proposed, he hoped that for the first two years, ships would sail either way every few days. “The absence of such a service is keenly felt by various interests,” said JSir Joseph. “It seems incongruous to me that a great country like Australia should be shut out from an important country hke New Zealand in its southern route and connections and every effort will bo made to establish a suitable service. Auckland is well served by the mail services. I took an active part in connection with its establishment on the present basis and it would be invidious if Auckland were to raise fastidious objections to the re-creation of a service in the South Island such as existed 40 years ago. In any case, a narrow view should not be taken of the proposal to establish mail services to the youth Island. The country is growing and I know of no other countries where tho steam services are confined to one centre."