THE MAIL SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9104, 12 July 1888, Page 5

THE MAIL SERVICES.

A BATCH OF QUESTIONS.

ANSWERS BY THE PREMIER,

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. Mb. Reeves, in asking his question about the Vancouver mail route, said it was desirable that mails should go continuously through British territory. He believed this route was shorter, and the Canadian Government was willing to give a subsidy, whereas the American Government was rather illiberal in its arrangements. The Premier said the proposals made to the Government from those interested in the Vancouver route were for a branch steamer, but that could not be entertained. The subject would not be lost sight of, but the Canadian Government had been informed that any Pacific Mail Service proposals must involve boats calling at a New Zealand port. In reply to Mr. Guinness, the Premier said he had taken no steps to ascertain from the two steam shipping companies the terms on which they would carry on a fortnightly service. The whole question of sea-borne mail services would have to be considered this session.

In reply to Mr. Ward, the Premier said he would give the House an opportunity of discussing the abolition of the San Francisco mail subsidy before the House rose. Mr. Peacock got his return supplementary to Sir John Hall's to-day, re the San Francisco Service, as also did Mr. Ward, for the return of the cargo carried by the steamers of both the San Francisco and Direct Services for the year 1887. Some further facts relating to the San Francisco mail service are referred to in the postal report. The subsidy of £4000 understood to nave been promised by the United States' Government has proved mainly illusive, as it is now ascertained that the £4000 means only £800 a-year in excess of the postage payments. The contractors have, therefore, a claim for refund as regards the balance, a liability divided between New Zealand and New South Wales. The explanation is that a telegram forwarded to the American Postmaster-General, asking for a subsidy of £4000 a year in addition to the postage payments, was mutilated in transmission, and misinterpreted by the Washington Postmaster-General, who subsequently declined to increase the payment to the amount originally asked for by New Zealand; but in the event of the San Francisco service being renewed by the colonies for a term of years, the PostmasterGeneral of Washington has stated that the contribution from his office may probably be increased to £6000 yearly on certain conditions.