THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

North Otago Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4082, 12 October 1885, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

In cordudlng an article on the new San Francifc^ mail serv'f, the Chiislchurch Press observes :— 11 It would be easy to Bhow that had tho New Zealand Government taken a proper view of tho question, the me ney which is to be spent on the San Franci-co service could have been much more advantageously utilised in helping onr^elvts. It is admitted on all hands that thodirec> steamers are aUrncing to our shores an ever-increasing number of passengers who come here partly for plea- ure and partly f r infoimation. In subsidising a rival passenger route we diminish the revenue received by the owners of the direct stoamera. The outlay connected with kfoping these steamers afloat is of cnurso very great indeed. The money with which to do that must be derived from passage money and freight charges. If these steamers were liberaily subsidised for mail purposes, and were they crowded on each voyage with paaaengera, the owners would be in a position to make concessions to tha public of New Zealand in the ahaps of lower fresh's for our stable produc'p. They could carry our frrzan meat at lower ratoß, and thereby confer an enormous boon upon iho whole community. The chance of being able to make such oon. co-sions baß been for the time being de. stroyed through the ill-considered deterruination of tho Government of the colony to ketp up a passenger route which will, luring us no commeicial advantages, and will not securo to Ihe contractors even a now field of enterprise which ia worth their while to cultivate."