THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11783, 12 October 1901, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE,

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.

NOT FAVOURABLE TO irHE

SERVICE.

ATTEMPT TO DESTROY 3T.

PROPOSED VANCOUVER

SERVICE.

SUBSIDY OF £20,000.

[DT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Friday.

The Postmaster-General gave notice this evening to move the following resolutions on Wednesday next: —

1. "That in view of the temporary agreement with the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company (the Oceanic Steamship Company of San Francisco) for the performance of a three-weekly service between So.n Francisco and Auckland for one year expiring next month, (a) this House authorises the Government to enter into a contract with the said company for a renewal of the present San Francisco mail service for a term of three years, subject to the following conditions: (k) That the payment for the conveyance of mails from New Zealand to San Francisco shall be at the rate of 7s oa per lb for letters, Is per lb for books, packets, etc., and 6d per lb for aewspapers; or (c) that in lieu of the foregoing payments a fixed annual subsidy of £20,000 be paid, provided that one British-owned steamer, registered in New Zealand, be employed in the service; (n) that the time between San Francisco and Auckland shall not exceed seventeen days; (e) that no bonus shall be paid for 'early arrival, and a penalty of the rate of £4 an hour shall be enforced only when late delivery exceeds forty-eight hours; (f) that all mails tendered to the contractors at Auckland and San Francisco by, or on behalf of, the Postmaster-General of New Zealand shall be conveyed by the contract vessels, and sufficient and secure accommodation provided tor the same; (a) that suitable accommodation and lighting shall be provided for the purpose of sorting the mails on board the contract ves sels, and first-class accommodation provided without charge for a mail agent and assistant, or if required, two assistants ; (h) that during the continuance of the contract, and so long as the same shall be faithfully carried out by the contractors,, no charge for harbour dues, dock dues, or other rates shall be made or levied under the Harbours Act, 1878, or any amendment thereof, or under any special* Act in that behalf at tbe Port of Auckland foT any of the steam vessels employed in carrying out the contract; (i) that any agreement entered into between the Postmaster-General of New Zealand and the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company, shall, where applicable, follow the provisions of the agreement entered into between the Postmaster-General and the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), on August 14, 1895, and the renewed agreement made on April 11, 1899 ; (J) and that the terms and conditions of clause 7 of the agreement of August 14, 1895, providing for the detention of the vessels at San Francisco for the mails from Great Britain, shall be given effect to as far as may be' consistent with the contract subsisting between the J. D. Spreckels and Brothers Company and the United States Government."

2. " That in the event of it being found impracticable to arrange a contract for the three-weekly San Francisco service on the foregoing terms, this House authorises the Government to entei into negotiations for establishing a three-weekly or a four-weekly "Vancouver mail service, subject to the following conditions: — (a) That the contract shall be for a term of not less than three, or more than five, years ; {n) that the payment shall not exceed £20,000 a year; (c) that the service shall be performed by vessels of not less than 6000 tons, having firstclass passenger accommodations, and fitted with all modern improvements, and also refrigerating chambers and chilled chambers, for fruit and dairy produce ; (d) that the time shall not exceed 18 days between Vancouver and a New Zealand port, the selection of which to be at the contractors' option ; (e) that the terms and conditions of the contract proposed in respect of the San Francisco service shall be applied to the Vancouver service so far as they can be adopted." 3. "That the Government shall also negotiate for a fortnightly intercolonial service to provide prompt connection with the Federal mail service at Melbourne and Sydney, (a) between Wellington and Sydney, or (b) between Melbourne and the Bluff, and in addition, in the event of the San Francisco service not being arranged, (c) between Sydney and Auckland." Members .are reticent upon the question of the mail sen'ices, but they agree in expressing approval of the Government's action in bringing down the resolutions in ample time to allow them to be fully considered. A long and warm debate is expected when the question conies up for de cision. The division will be exceedinglyclose.