THE MAIL SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12759, 9 January 1905, Page 5

THE MAIL SERVICES.

POSITION OF THE VANCOUVER LINE. VIEWS OF SIR FPU WARD. [IIV TELEGRAPH.—OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] DrNKDtN, Saturday. Sir Joseph Ward, who lias been spending the holidays in going round among his constituents, returned to Wellington to-day. Interviewed on the subject of the poundage system in connection with (lie Vancouver mail service, referred to in a cablegram from Melbourne published on Friduj morning. Sir Joseph Ward said : —"I do not think a system of poundage rates on the Vancouver service would suit us. If we had the service we would want it by contract, so as to ensure its coming and going with regularity. On a poundage basis, with a maximum and a, minimum fixed, as it would have to be, we would not have much chance of doing what we wish to do. We wish to take the place of Queensland in the Vancouver service. Brisbane. I understand, is agreeable to being left out as a port; of call, and in that case we desire to take up the same position by paying £20,000 a year for it. Further, I should doubt the likelihood of any line of steamers undertaking a pro-perly-timed mail service under satisfactory conditions on a poundage basis. Take the case of the San Francisco service. We pay on the basis of weight truly, but we have a minimum guarantee and a maximum as well, and that is equivalent to a fixed subsidy."