THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13421, 25 February 1907, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Owing to the temporary withdrawal of the Ventura from the San Francisco mail service, the Acting-Post-master-General, Dr. Findlay. has decided that "unless a substitute vessel is provided no English mails will be sent by the San Francisco steamers until the service has been put on a proper footing and it can be shown that the steamers themselves are capable of keeping time-table dates." We regret exceedingly that this step has been made imperative by the failure of the Oceanic Company to reorganise its service, but we confidently hope that it will take such prompt action as will obviate the further necessity " to consider the advisability of abandoning the service altogether.'' For tin- company cannot but be aware of the ruinous effect of the existing state of affairs. After the San Francisco earthquake and fire there was a ycrj.

great sympathy in this colony with the sufferings and losses of our trans-Pacific neighbours and every disposition to make the most generous allowance for the, consequent disorganisation of their trade. But ten months have elapsed since that terrible disaster, during which period the San Francisco mail service has shown very little improvement. When conducted with anythine like regularity this service is unquestionably the very best available, gaining a full week upon the fastest Suez service, but, as Dr. Findlay contends, "punctuality and regularity are as important as expeditious transit." We would, therefore urge upon the Oceanic Company the necessity of putting on an additional steamer—which the Act-ing-Postmaster-General says can be obtained- and of otherwise meeting the reasonable requirements of tit" New Zealand Post Office. At the present time no contract exists, so that no penalty is incurred by any failure of the 'Frisco steamers to keep time or not to run at all, but the mere infliction of penalty is not what is wanted. The regularity of the 'Frisco mail was once so habitual that any delay immediately excited uneasiness as to the safety of the steamers, but latterly it has been sadly unreliable. After making every allowance for special and unforeseen difficulties and impediments it- ; s obvious that the equipment of (he service is mainly to blame for faults that make the greatly inferior Suez route temporarily more advantageous to our commercial firms. It should be possible to remedy this and thus to maintain unbroken a mail connection which for many years lias been most beneficial If) the colony as well as. we may hope, profitable to the contractors.