MAIL SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 6

MAIL SERVICES.

THE VANCOUVER CONTRACT

gIK JAMES MILLS" MISSION.

I.v view of Sir James Mills' approaching visit to Canada, it is interesting to. recall the statement made recently by Mr. Austin Chapman, Postmaster-General of the Commonwealth. "We have completed arrangements with the Union Steam Ship Company." he said. " for the renewal of the exiftiii" contract with th.it company for the carriage of mails between .Sydney ami Vancouver. The agreement is foi an extension of two years from July 51. The -i-!)-side, route, arid general conditions, ate the same as provided by the present contract, siibiect to special conditions agreed to, namely, the contract to Ix; terminable at the end of the first yea. at the option of the Government, upon four months' notice of the intention to do so being given ; the company to replace the s-teamei Mioweni by another steams* in March next, the steamer replacing her to reduce ti>6 time- of the voyage by 24 hour* ; a second new steamer to replace one of the present vessels between March and July, 1908, also reducing the time by 24 hours ; and during the same period in 1909. If the contract be renewed beyond July, 1903, a third fast steamer to be put on '.he line. Ai lan-'c-nient., were made in London between the parties concerned for the renewal of the contract on these terms; but, as a matter of course, .he Governments of Canada and Fiji, and othe* contributing countries, are being informed of tire action being taken, and formally asked tc express their concurrence. The present subsidy is £66.000 per annum, contributed iv* follows: Canada, £37,000; Australia, £26,626; Fiji, £2282."

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. "in answer to a question by a press representative in Wellington on Wednesday, Hie Prime Minister sail! that there was at present no proposal before him for the renewal of the old Sun Francisco steamer service. The Weir line was considering a scheme for putting better bouts on the American-New Zealand service, but the re-establishment of the service between San Francisco, Auckland, and Australia, had been dependent on the .passage of the Mail Subsidies Bill through the United States Legislature. Under this Bill it would have been possible to have given £;\-t-e!;tv-' subsidies for secondclass ships, but the measure had been rejected by the Lower House, and the American authorities wove nor, now in a position to give any subsidies at all. The New Zealand Government had not offered any subsidy. There was a certain amount of cargo from America for New Zealand, though not much in the oilier direction, and the owners of the Weir iirto would possibly improve the conditions of the trade.