SPEECH BY THE HON. J. G. WARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11541, 28 November 1900, Page 5

SPEECH BY THE HON. J. G. WARD.

TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

A NEW LINE OF STEAMERS. V POSTAL REFORM. . [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Clinton, Tuesday. Mr. Ward addressed a well-attended public meeting at Clinton in the Town Hall yesterday evening. He said he thought it would be wise for the colony to give such assistance as the State could afford towards the expansion of trade by the obtaining of fresh markets for the products that were now available. They must have heard of tiie possibility of trade being opened with Sou! Africa. The Government had decided to invite applications for lines of steamers to trade from five ports in New Zealand to three in South Africa. Such a service would be of immense benefit and open a large trade i» grain, flour, frozen meat, and dairy products. It was also intended to appoint at an early date a secretary for industry and commerce, who would devote himself to assisting industrial and commercial development. , A good man in such a position would prove of great assistance to our merchants, traders, and farmers. . Penny postage was not the only reform to be brought into operation. It was proposed to establish from January 1 "an express" delivery by telegraph messenger for letters and parcels (up to 31b). The delivery at first would be restricted to the principal centres, but gradually it would be extended to other portions of the colony. Under this system " expressed" articles would be sent from any post office within the colony, and such offices outside the colony, as cared to reciprocate with us. The delivery would be up to three miles. For the first mile sixpence would be charged, and for each additional mile threepence. Provision would also be made for expressed articles and stamped telegrams being collected by letter carriers and telegraph messengers. In the case of telegrams this should be a decided convenience to people living some distance from the telegraph office. Another proposal was to have uniform parcel rates for all parts of the Empire. The present rate to London was one shilling for the first lb, and sixpence for each additional lb. The rate now proposed was one shilling for 31b, two shillings for 71b, and three shillings for 111b. In addition, he also proposed to establish a telegraph messenger service in connection with the telephone exchanges, to enable subscribers to ring for a messenger to run an errand, order a cab, etc., and the charge would be the same as for " express " letter delivery up to three miles, and messages would be delivered up to five miles on payment of the ordinary cab or train fare. He had every confidence that a success would be made of such a system. It would be self-supporting, and was worth a trial.

Invercargill, Tuesday. The Hon. J. G. Ward left to-day for Clinton, where he opens the new railway station. He also visits various centres in Otago, and opens a new station at Oamaru before proceeding to Auckland.